Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for impurity removal and treatment in the recycling process of scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries.

Abstract: The invention described relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of a low molecular weight alcohol, in an aqueous liquid feed solution, comprising a first sensor including a hydrophilic capillary tube having an inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a first capacitor, a second sensor including a hydrophobic capillary tube having the same inner diameter as a capillary tube of the first sensor; said hydrophobic capillary tube having a hydrophobic coating on the inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a second capacitor, wherein the first hydrophilic and second hydrophobic sensors are dipped to the same depth in the aqueous solution to measure the solution concentration, means for measuring the capacitance of the two capacitors, and control means including a control circuit driven by a computer, wherein the difference in capacitance between the two capacitors is a measure of the concentration of the solution, independent of the depth of dippi

Abstract: The invention described relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of a low molecular weight alcohol, in an aqueous liquid feed solution, comprising a first sensor including a hydrophilic capillary tube having an inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a first capacitor, a second sensor including a hydrophobic capillary tube having the same inner diameter as a capillary tube of the first sensor; said hydrophobic capillary tube having a hydrophobic coating on the inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a second capacitor, wherein the first hydrophilic and second hydrophobic sensors are dipped to the same depth in the aqueous solution to measure the solution concentration, means for measuring the capacitance of the two capacitors, and control means including a control circuit driven by a computer, wherein the difference in capacitance between the two capacitors is a measure of the concentration of the solution, independent of the depth of dippi

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to porous carbon of spherical morphology having tuned porosity and to a method of making same, comprising: (a) providing a precursor solution, by combining in an aqueous solution a colloidal silica template material and a water-soluble pyrolyzable carbon source, wherein the particle size of the colloidal silica template and the colloidal silica/carbon source weight ratio are controlled, (b) atomizing the precursor solution into small droplets by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (c) directing the droplets into a high temperature furnace operating at a temperature of 700-1200° C., under an inert gas atmosphere, where the droplets are transformed into solid spherical composite carbon/silica particles, (d) collecting the resulting composite carbon/silica particles exiting from the furnace, and (e) removing the silica from the particles, to provide substantially pure porous carbon of spherical morphology having tuned porosity defined by surface area and pore size.

Abstract: An air-diffusion cathode and methods to make the same. The product and method comprise treating the metal substrate, applying multiple pastes containing catalyst, carbon powder, hydrophilic and hydrophobic property chemicals onto a metal substrate for cathodes in fuel cells, in which the metal substrate has a mesh or foam structure.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for the electrochemical generation of nitrogen from organic nitrogen compounds, such as hydrazides (RCONHNH2), the corresponding organic hydrazino-carboxylates (RCO2NHNH2) and amino-guanidine salts (e.g. aminoguanide bicarbonate H2NNHC (NH) NH2H2CO3). A variety of organic hydrazides and hydrazino-carboxylates may be used, and empirically tested for performance. For example, in the hydrazides and hydrazino-carboxylates “R” may be an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl group, in some embodiments methyl, ethyl, or benzyl. The alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups may be branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted. The utility of such compounds may be routinely assayed in accordance with the guidance provided herein, including the Examples set out herein in which alternative nitrogen compounds may be substituted for routine test purposes.

Abstract: The performance of a direct feed fuel cell such as, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell, with an anode having a CO-tolerant catalyst, such as a Pt—Ru catalyst, is improved by periodically reducing the output power of the cell to be less than the normal minimum output of the cell. This is effected, for example, by switching the cell at predetermined time intervals to an open circuit or reduced output power condition.

Abstract: Fuel cells are disclosed that operate directly on fuel streams comprising tetramethyl orthocarbonate in which tetramethyl orthocarbonate is directly oxidized at the anode and, more particularly, to solid polymer fuel cells operating directly on liquid fuel streams comprising tetramethyl orthocarbonate. Also disclosed are methods relating thereto.

Abstract: Low temperature fuel cells, e.g. solid polymer fuel cells, can operate directly on a fuel comprising dimethyl ether with dimethyl ether being oxidized at the fuel cell anode. Being highly soluble in water, dimethyl ether can be supplied as a liquid aqueous fuel solution. As a fuel, dimethyl ether provides similar power characteristics as methanol but typically with a greater Faradaic efficiency in liquid feed solid polymer fuel cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are reactant feed apparatus for liquid-fueled direct feed fuel cells, including miniaturized versions thereof. More specifically, disclosed is a fuel flow device for delivering liquid fuel to such direct feed fuel cells. The fuel flow device comprises a fuel flow-routing device and an enclosure/partition assembly containing the liquid fuel to be delivered. When the fuel flow device is fluidly connected to the fuel cell, it operates to deliver the liquid fuel to an anode flow field thereof by using the pressurized anodic exhaust gases exiting therefrom as the source of power for pumping the liquid fuel from the enclosure into the fuel cell.

Abstract: Fuel cells are disclosed that operate directly on fuel streams comprising tetramethyl orthocarbonate in which tetramethyl orthocarbonate is directly oxidized at the anode and, more particularly, to solid polymer fuel cells operating directly on liquid fuel streams comprising tetramethyl orthocarbonate. Also disclosed are methods relating thereto.

Abstract: In an operating liquid feed fuel cell system, fuel concentration in the fuel stream can be calculated as a function of the observed current, the temperature of the fuel stream entering the fuel cell stack, and the temperature of the fuel cell stack itself, thereby eliminating the need for a separate sensor. Typically, methanol will be used as the fuel and the liquid feed fuel cell system will thus be a direct methanol fuel cell system.

Abstract: Solid polymer fuel cells can operate directly on a fuel comprising a mixture of dimethoxymethane and methanol with both dimethoxymethane and methanol being oxidized at the fuel cell anode. Both being highly soluble in water, a dimethoxymethane and methanol mixture can be supplied as a liquid aqueous fuel solution. As a fuel, a dimethoxymethane and methanol mixture can provide similar power characteristics as methanol in liquid feed solid polymer fuel cells and is found to outperform methanol at high current densities. Additionally, dimethoxymethane acts as a reactive antifreeze additive in the fuel mixture and imparts a strong and distinct odor to the fuel mixture.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for the electrochemical generation of nitrogen from organic nitrogen compounds, such as hydrazides (RCONHNH2), the corresponding organic hydrazino-carboxylates (RCO2NHNH2) and amino-guanidine salts (e.g. aminoguanide bicarbonate H2NNHC(NH)NH2.H2CO3). A variety of organic hydrazides and hydrazino-carboxylates may be used, and empirically tested for performance. For example, in the hydrazides and hydrazino-carboxylates “R” may be an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl group, in some embodiments methyl, ethyl, or benzyl. The alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups may be branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted. The utility of such compounds may be routinely assayed in accordance with the guidance provided herein, including the Examples set out herein in which alternative nitrogen compounds may be substituted for routine test purposes.

Abstract: In an operating liquid feed fuel cell system, fuel concentration in the fuel stream can be calculated as a function of the observed current, the temperature of the fuel stream entering the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the fuel cell stack itself, thereby eliminating the need for a separate sensor. Typically, methanol will be used as the fuel and the liquid feed fuel cell system will thus be a direct methanol fuel cell system.

Abstract: The measuring range of a fuel cell based concentration sensor can be extended by decreasing the load across the fuel cell terminals and by increasing the amount of oxidant supplied to the fuel cell. In this way, such a sensor avoids saturation, for example, when measuring methanol concentrations from 0 M to over 4 M in liquid aqueous solution. Such a sensor is suitable for use in measuring fuel concentrations in the recirculating fuel stream of certain fuel cell stacks (for example, direct methanol fuel cell stacks).

Abstract: A method is provided for adjusting the temperature of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, such as a direct methanol fuel cell or PEM fuel cell. A method is also provided for starting a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell apparatus is further provided. In the present methods and apparatus, the temperature of a fuel cell is increased by providing a fuel stream containing methanol to the fuel cell anode and facilitating methanol crossover and combustion. The methanol concentration or methanol pressure can be adjusted in response to a measured parameter indicative of the fuel cell temperature.

Abstract: The performance of a direct feed fuel cell such as, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell, with an anode having a CO-tolerant catalyst, such as a Pt-Ru catalyst, is improved by periodically reducing the output power of the cell to be less than the normal minimum output of the cell. This is effected, for example, by switching the cell at predetermined time intervals to an open circuit or reduced output power condition.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell is operated with periodic reactant starvation at either or both electrodes. Periodic reactant starvation conditions cause a change in the potential of the starved electrode and may result in the removal of electrocatalyst poisons and in improved fuel cell performance. This technique may have other beneficial effects at the electrodes, including performance improvements due to water management effects or localized heating effects at the starved electrode. In a preferred method, while successive localized portions of a fuel cell electrode are periodically reactant starved, the remainder of the fuel cell electrode remains electrochemically active and saturated with reactant such that the fuel cell is able to continue to generate power.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for the electrochemical generation of nitrogen from organic nitrogen compounds, such as hydrazides (RCONHNH2), the corresponding organic hydrazino-carboxylates (RCO2NHNH2) and amino-guanidine salts (e.g. aminoguanide bicarbonate H2NNHC(NH)NH2.H2CO3). In the hydrazides and hydrazino-carboxylates, “R” may be an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl group, in some embodiments methyl, ethyl, or benzyl. The alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups may be branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted.