Abstract: A high temperature, solid electrolyte electrochemical cell is made, having a first and second electrode with solid electrolyte between them, where the electrolyte is formed by hot chemical vapor deposition, where a solid, interlayer material, which is electrically conductive, oxygen permeable, and protective of electrode material from hot metal halide vapor attack, is placed between the first electrode and the electrolyte, to protect the first electrode from the hot metal halide vapors during vapor deposition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of coating an electrode on a solid oxygen conductive oxide layer. A coating of particles of an electronic conductor is formed on one surface of the oxide layer and a source of oxygen is applied to the opposite surface of the oxide layer. A metal halide vapor is applied over the electronic conductor and the oxide layer is heated to a temperature sufficient to induce oxygen to diffuse through the oxide layer and react with the metal halide vapor. This results in the growing of a metal oxide coating on the particles of electronic conductor, thereby binding them to the oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of increasing the operating cell voltage of a solid oxide electrochemical cell having metal electrode particles in contact with an oxygen-transporting ceramic electrolyte. The metal electrode is heated with the cell, and oxygen is passed through the oxygen-transporting ceramic electrolyte to the surface of the metal electrode particles so that the metal electrode particles are oxidized to form a metal oxide layer between the metal electrode particles and the electrolyte. The metal oxide layer is then reduced to form porous metal between the metal electrode particles and the ceramic electrolyte.

Abstract: A high temperature, solid electrolyte electrochemical cell is made, having a first and second electrode with solid electrolyte between them, where the electrolyte is formed by hot chemical vapor deposition, where a solid, interlayer material, which is electrically conductive, oxygen permeable, and protective of electrode material from hot metal halide vapor attack, is placed between the first electrode and the electrolyte, to protect the first electrode from the hot metal halide vapors during vapor deposition.

Abstract: High temperature fuel cell configurations and interconnections are made including annular cells having a solid electrolyte sandwiched between thin film electrodes. The cells are electrically interconnected along an elongated axial outer surface.

Abstract: A thin film solid electrolyte cell structure for use as an oxygen sensor, a combustibles sensor and a gross-oxygen-gross-combustibles sensor. An electrode is sealed to a porous mechanical support member by a thin film solid electrolyte which also seals the support member. The sealed support member divides a sensor apparatus into two zones, one of which contains a reference gas, the other of which contains the gas to be measured.

Abstract: A combustion control process and apparatus provides a reference flame of known or constant composition which is in ionic communication with the main flame which is to be controlled. Both the reference and main flames are supported by electrically insulated burner nozzles and the flames are in mutual electrical communication through ionized gases. The potential difference is measured between the flames by way of the nozzles and is used in the air-fuel ratio adjustment of the main burner. Additionally, the main burner can function as a reference point in combination with a zirconia oxygen sensor to ascertain potential differences therebetween, which differences reflect the air-fuel mixture of the main flame.

Abstract: An improved electrical output connection means is provided for a high temperature solid oxide electrolyte type fuel cell generator. The electrical connection of the fuel cell electrodes to the electrical output bus, which is brought through the generator housing to be connected to an electrical load line maintains a highly uniform temperature distribution. The electrical connection means includes an electrode bus which is spaced parallel to the output bus with a plurality of symmetrically spaced transversely extending conductors extending between the electrode bus and the output bus, with thermal insulation means provided about the transverse conductors between the spaced apart buses. Single or plural stages of the insulated transversely extending conductors can be provided within the high temperatures regions of the fuel cell generator to provide highly homogeneous temperature distribution over the contacting surfaces.

Abstract: Organic hydrocarbon materials are produced from plentiful inorganic limestone type materials by: (1) thermally decomposing the limestone type materials to produce CaO and CO.sub.2, (2) using the CO.sub.2 in a solid electrolyte electrolysis cell to produce CO, (3) catalytically decomposing the CO to produce carbon, (4) reacting the carbon with the CaO produced in step (1), to produce CaC.sub.2, (5) hydrolyzing the CaC.sub.2 toi produce C.sub.2 H.sub.2, (6) catalytically reacting the C.sub.2 H.sub.2 with steam to produce CH.sub.3 COCH.sub.3, (7) pyrolyzing the CH.sub.3 COCH.sub.3 to provide ketene and methane, and separating the ketene. The ketene may then be decomposed to provide methylene, which can be reacted with an alkane, such as methane in an insertion chain reaction, to provide organic hydrocarbon materials. An in-place nuclear reactor can provide energy for the endothermic reactions of the system.

Abstract: A thin film solid electrolyte cell structure for use as a gross-oxygen combustibles sensor that measures combustibles and oxygen in the presence of each other, generates two currents, one proportional to the amount of combustibles, the other proportional to the amount of oxygen. An electrode is sealed to a porous mechanical support member by a thin film solid electrolyte which also seals the support member. The sealed support member divides a sensor apparatus into two zones, one of which contains an oxygen containing reference gas, the other of which contains the gas to be measured.

Abstract: High temperature solid oxide electrolyte fuel cell generators which allow controlled leakage among plural chambers in a sealed housing. Depleted oxidant and fuel are directly reacted in one chamber to combust remaining fuel and preheat incoming reactants. The cells are preferably electrically arranged in a series-parallel configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a deposit, such as silicon, by the reaction of a reactant, such as lithium, with a gas containing the element or compound to be deposited, such as silicon tetrachloride. One reactant diffuses through the growing scale on a heated inert substrate to react with the gas on the other side of the scale and lead to further scale growth.

Abstract: Solid oxide electrolyte fuel cell generators which are operable to reform in-situ a gaseous medium and to utilize the products of the reformation as fuel. A portion of the reformation preferably occurs along an electrochemically inactive extension of each fuel cell.

Abstract: In a high temperature gas measuring device consisting of a zirconia oxide solid electrolyte cell bonded to a support member, a sealant exhibiting a thermal coefficient of expansion comparable to zirconia and a melting point in excess of 1000.degree. C. is used to seal the cell to the support member. The preferred sealants which meet these requirements include:(1) 3 MgO.sup.. Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.sup.. 6 SiO.sub.2(2) 52% Nd.sub.4 (SiO.sub.4).sub.3, 48% Ca.sub.2 SiO.sub.4(3) 57% La.sub.4 (SiO.sub.4).sub.3, 43% Ca.sub.2 SiO.sub.4(4) 50% Y.sub.4 (SiO.sub.4).sub.3, 50% Ca.sub.2 SiO.sub.4(5) (a) La.sub.2 O.sub.3.sup.. Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 50 mol % of each (b) 40% La.sub.2 O.sub.3.sup.. 60% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A molten carbonate electrochemical cell operating at a temperature between 400.degree. and 700.degree. C. is used to remove O.sub.2 in combination with CO.sub.2 from an oxygen/combustibles gas mixture to provide a low temperature measurement of the oxygen content of the gas mixture.

Abstract: A solid state sensor consisting of at least two electrodes associated with a solid substrate exhibiting ionic conduction. The two electrodes are connected in an electrical circuit which facilitates measuring of peaking voltage signals generated by the sensor, the sensor being capable of generating peak electrical signals of more than a hundred millivolt while exposed to hot combustion gases resulting from air fuel mixtures changing between lean and rich fuel-air mixtures.

Abstract: An oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte electrochemical cell is employed to pump oxygen for combustible reaction with fuel constituents of a combustibles gas environment which diffuse through an aperture of a housing. The housing in combination with the solid electrolyte electrochemical cell forms an internal chamber. The EMF established across the electrodes of the solid electrolyte electrochemical cell pumps sufficient oxygen for complete combustion with the fuel diffusing through the aperture into the internal chamber. The resulting current of the solid electrolyte electrochemical is indicative of the rate of diffusion of the fuel or combustibles constituent through the aperture. The rate of diffusion is proportional to the fuel or combustibles content of the combustibles gas environment.

Abstract: A mixed-conducting (electronic-ionic) membrane exhibiting substantially no mechanical porosity, is employed as a solid state filter in combination with a gas sensor to protect the gas sensor from deterioration and contamination by particulate and certain gaseous matter present in the gas environment being monitored.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor consisting of an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte member coated with a porous cermet structure which exhibits a metallic and ceramic skeleton develops a resistance change in response to a change in oxygen partial pressure at elevated temperatures. The resistance change, when coupled to an electrical circuit, provides an electrical indication of the oxygen partial pressure of the atmosphere contacting the oxygen sensor.

Abstract: A rechargeable, high temperature, electrochemical cell is made, comprising an anode containing an intermetallic compound of magnesium with silicon or magnesium with boron, a cathode containing a metal sulfide and a contacting, fused halide salt electrolyte, containing magnesium ions disposed between the anode and cathode.