Abstract: A process for the highly efficient oxidation of ethanol in fuel cells involves the addition of a metal co-catalyst oxidation enhancer to the fuel cell electrolyte in soluble form. The enhancer vastly improves the rate of ethanol ethanol oxidation and promotes oxidation of the C—C bond to CO2. The metal co-catalyst can adopt oxidation number II and oxidation number IV and forms a redox couple that promotes oxidation reactions at the anode. Embodiments of the invention include fuel cells, methods of their operation, and fuel cell electrolyte solutions for the efficient electro-oxidation of organic fuels including ethanol.

Abstract: An electrochemical element or cell and a cathode for same which contains an anode, a separator, and a cathode composed of manganese dioxide; this cathode incorporates an inorganic crystalline additive of tungsten oxide, compounds of zirconium, titanium oxide with rutile structure, yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zeolites and aluminosilicates, and at least one of these is present in a proportion or range between one ten thousandth (0.0001) and ten (10) percent by weight of the cathode mass.

Abstract: An electrochemical element or cell and a cathode for same which contains an anode, a separator, and a cathode composed of manganese dioxide; this cathode incorporates an inorganic crystalline additive of tungsten oxide, compounds of zirconium, titanium oxide with rutile structure, yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zeolites and aluminosilicates, and at least one of these is present in a proportion or range between one ten thousandth (0.0001) and ten (10) percent by weight of the cathode mass.