Abstract: The present invention refers to new membrane-electrode assembly (MBA), methods of producing the same as well as fuel cell comprising said MBA.

Abstract: A zipped ion-exchange membrane (Z-IEM) having at least one cation-exchange polyelectrolyte (CEP) crosslinked with at least one anion-exchange polyelectrolyte (AEP), wherein the CEP has a molar fraction of positive charges (x) so that: (i) when x=0.5, the Z-IEM is a completely neutralized ion-exchange membrane; (ii) when x>0.5, the Z-IEM is a cation-conducting ion-exchange membrane; (iii) when x<0.5, the Z-IEM is an anion-conducting ion-exchange membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrocatalysts comprising a carbonitride (CN) shell featuring good electrical conductivity, coordinating suitable catalytically active sites. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the aforesaid carbonitride shell coordinates nanoparticles or aggregates of nanoparticles, on which the active sites of the electrocatalyst are located. In a preferred form of the invention, said carbonitride shell covers suitable cores with good electrical conductivity. Said electrocatalysts are obtained through a process involving the pyrolysis of suitable precursors; in one aspect of the invention, the preparation process requires certain further steps. In one preferred aspect, the steps comprise one or more of the following: chemical treatments; electrochemical treatments; further pyrolysis processes.

Abstract: The invention refers to hierarchical nanocomposites including layered materials supported on suitable carriers. In a preferential aspect of the invention, the layered materials consist of graphene and related materials. In a preferential aspect of the invention, the carrier consists of nanoparticles characterized by a Mohs hardness higher than that of the layered materials included in the hierarchical nanocomposite. These materials, which consist of “core” nanoparticles (the carrier) wrapped by layered systems (the “shell”) such as graphene, graphene oxide and other graphene and related materials (GRMs), are suitable precursors to obtain inks with water. The hierarchical “core-shell” nanocomposites are obtained by a preparation procedure including at least one “in situ” mechanical exfoliation step of the layered materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrocatalysts comprising a carbonitride (CN) shell featuring good electrical conductivity, coordinating suitable catalytically active sites. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the aforesaid carbonitride shell coordinates nanoparticles or aggregates of nanoparticles, on which the active sites of the electrocatalyst are located. In a preferred form of the invention, said carbonitride shell covers suitable cores with good electrical conductivity. Said electrocatalysts are obtained through a process involving the pyrolysis of suitable precursors; in one aspect of the invention, the preparation process requires certain further steps. In one preferred aspect, the steps comprise one or more of the following: chemical treatments; electrochemical treatments; further pyrolysis processes.