Abstract: A metal air flow battery includes an electrochemical reaction unit and an oxygen exchange unit. The electrochemical reaction unit includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an ionic conductive membrane between the anode and the cathode, an anode electrolyte, and a cathode electrolyte. The oxygen exchange unit contacts the cathode electrolyte with oxygen separate from the electrochemical reaction unit. At least one pump is provided for pumping cathode electrolyte between the electrochemical reaction unit and the oxygen exchange unit. A method for producing an electrical current is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device includes an anode having a first mixture which includes a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity, and lithium metal materials. The weight ratio of the first plurality of carbon-comprising and lithium metal materials is from 30:1 to 3:1. A cathode includes a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than the first average porosity, and lithium-intercalating metal oxide particles. The weight ratio of the second plurality of carbon-comprising and lithium-intercalating metal oxide particles is from 1:20 to 5:1. The weight ratio between the lithium metal materials loaded in the anode and the second plurality of carbon-comprising particles in the cathode is from 0.1-10%. An electrolyte physically and ionically contacts the anode and the cathode, and fills the pore volume in the anode, cathode and a porous separator.

Abstract: An apparatus for the in situ NMR monitoring of a battery including an anode, a separator and an air cathode is provided. The apparatus includes a non-metallic anode container portion, a non-metallic cathode container portion, and non-metallic connecting structure and sealing structure for connecting and sealing the anode container portion and the cathode container portion to define a hermetically sealed interior space for containing the battery with an anode of the battery adjacent the anode container portion and an air cathode of the battery adjacent the cathode container portion. The cathode container portion includes an air chamber portion with an air inlet and an air outlet. The air chamber portion can be adjacent to the air cathode such that air flowing from the air inlet to the air outlet will contact the air cathode. A method of evaluating an air cathode battery and a battery assembly for the NMR spectroscopy of an air cathode battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.

Abstract: Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.

Abstract: A lithium air battery cell includes an anode having lithium, a cathode having a Ag2Mn8O16 catalyst, and an electrolyte comprising a lithium salt. A cathode for a lithium air battery cell and a lithium air battery with a cathode including buckypaper and a Ag2Mn8O16 catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.

Abstract: A metal air flow battery includes an electrochemical reaction unit and an oxygen exchange unit. The electrochemical reaction unit includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an ionic conductive membrane between the anode and the cathode, an anode electrolyte, and a cathode electrolyte. The oxygen exchange unit contacts the cathode electrolyte with oxygen separate from the electrochemical reaction unit. At least one pump is provided for pumping cathode electrolyte between the electrochemical reaction unit and the oxygen exchange unit. A method for producing an electrical current is also disclosed.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell comprising a gradient catalyst structure and a method of making the same. The gradient catalyst structure can include a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles, e.g., platinum, disposed on layered buckypaper. The layered buckypaper can include at least a first layer and a second layer and the first layer can have a lower porosity compared to the second layer. The gradient catalyst structure can include single-wall nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or both in the first layer of the layered buckypaper and can include carbon nanofibers in the second layer of the layered buckypaper. The MEA can have a catalyst utilization efficiency of at least 0.35 gcat/kW or less.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst layer and a method of making the same. The catalyst layer can include a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles, e.g., platinum, disposed on buckypaper. The catalyst layer can have 1% or less binder prior to attachment to the membrane electrode assembly. The catalyst layer can include (a) single-wall nanotubes, small diameter multi-wall nanotubes, or both, and (b) large diameter multi-wall nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or both. The ratio of (a) to (b) can range from 1:2 to 1:20. The catalyst layer can produce a surface area utilization efficiency of at least 60% and the platinum utilization efficiency can be 0.50 gPt/kW or less.

Abstract: Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell comprising a gradient catalyst structure and a method of making the same. The gradient catalyst structure can include a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles, e.g., platinum, disposed on layered buckypaper. The layered buckypaper can include at least a first layer and a second layer and the first layer can have a lower porosity compared to the second layer. The gradient catalyst structure can include single-wall nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or both in the first layer of the layered buckypaper and can include carbon nanofibers in the second layer of the layered buckypaper. The MEA can have a catalyst utilization efficiency of at least 0.35 gcat/kW or less.

Abstract: A nonlinear electrical circuit dynamic model for different fuel cells is provided. The model provides a nonlinear electrical circuit equivalent, the parameters of which correspond to the particular fuel cell being modeled. The parameters can be theoretically or experimentally derived from the responses of the particular fuel cell. The resulting model can have impedances that are equivalent to that of the particular fuel cell, thereby capturing or providing a good approximation of the transient behavior of the particular fuel cell. More particularly, the resulting model can have impedances in the low frequency range less than 100 Hz that are equivalent to that of the particular fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst layer and a method of making the same. The catalyst layer can include a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles, e.g., platinum, disposed on buckypaper. The catalyst layer can have 1% or less binder prior to attachment to the membrane electrode assembly. The catalyst layer can include (a) single-wall nanotubes, small diameter multi-wall nanotubes, or both, and (b) large diameter multi-wall nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or both. The ratio of (a) to (b) can range from 1:2 to 1:20. The catalyst layer can produce a surface area utilization efficiency of at least 60% and the platinum utilization efficiency can be 0.50 gPt/kW or less.

Abstract: A nonlinear electrical circuit dynamic model for different fuel cells is provided. The model provides a nonlinear electrical circuit equivalent, the parameters of which correspond to the particular fuel cell being modeled. The parameters can be theoretically or experimentally derived from the responses of the particular fuel cell. The resulting model can have impedances that are equivalent to that of the particular fuel cell, thereby capturing or providing a good approximation of the transient behavior of the particular fuel cell. More particularly, the resulting model can have impedances in the low frequency range less than 100 Hz that are equivalent to that of the particular fuel cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a layer of native oxide from a surface of a substrate without altering the smoothness of the substrate surface comprising: 1) depositing on the substrate surface a thin sacrificial layer of the substrate surface material, having a thickness sufficient to react with all of the native oxide when the substrate surface is subjected to thermal oxide desorption conditions, and 2) subjecting the substrate to thermal oxide desorption conditions for a time sufficient for all of the native oxide layer to react with the deposited sacrificial layer of substrate material to form volatile reaction products and evaporate from the substrate surface.

Abstract: A high energy density electrochemical capacitors with electrodes is formed from proton inserted ruthenium oxides (e.g. HRuO2.xH2O or HRuO2). The electrode material is formed by reducing ruthenium oxides (e.g. RuO2.xH2O or RuO2) using electrochemical method or chemical reaction between ruthenium oxides with acetone or methanol. Electrochemical capacitors with electrodes formed of proton inserted ruthenium oxides possess higher energy density, lower resistance, broader operating temperature range, and longer lifetime than that with electrodes comprised ruthenium oxides.

Abstract: A high energy density electrochemical capacitors with electrodes is formed from proton inserted ruthenium oxides (e.g. HRuO2.xH2O or HRuO2). The electrode material is formed by reducing ruthenium oxides (e.g. RuO2.xH2O or RuO2) using electrochemical method or chemical reaction between ruthenium oxides with acetone or methanol. Electrochemical capacitors with electrodes formed of proton inserted ruthenium oxides possess higher energy density, lower resistance, broader operating temperature range, and longer lifetime than that with electrodes comprised ruthenium oxides.

Abstract: An electrode material composed of hydrous metal oxide, such as ruthenium de, is annealed up to temperature just below the temperature at which the hydrous metal oxide would crystallize. Therefore, the hydrous metal oxide remains amorphous or non-crystalline. A hydrous metal oxide material treated in this manner provides a charge storage capacity and energy density greater than 747 F/g and 92 joules/gram, respectively, over 1 V range in a sulfuric acid electrolyte. This invention also provides a method of material preparation, wherein a sol-gel process is used to fabricate the hydrous metal oxides and wherein commercially available hydrous ruthenium oxide powders are treated and annealed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite electrode material for use in high rgy and high power density electrochemical capacitors, and to the electrochemical capacitor containing the electrodes. The electrodes are comprised of materials with high specific capacitance and electronic conductivity/high porosity. Specifically, the electrode is comprised of RuO.sub.2.xH.sub.2 O powder and carbon black or carbon fiber.