Abstract: The current invention provides a fabrication method for large surface area, pinhole-free, ultra thin ion conducting membranes using atomic layer deposition on inexpensive sacrificial substrates to make cost effective, high performance fuel cells or electrolyzers. The resultant membrane electrode assembly (MEA) enables significant reduction in resistive losses as well as lowering of the operating temperature of the fuel cell. The invention further provides a method to deposit 3-dimensional surface conformal films that may have compositional grading for superior performance. In addition, the invention provides decoration and modification of electrode surfaces for enhanced catalytic activity and reduced polarization losses. The method of the current invention enables the MEA structure to be fabricated from the anode side up or the cathode side up, each with or without an incorporated anode current collector or cathode current collector, respectively.

Abstract: A solid-state fuel cell includes: an anode; an anode side chemical electrolyte protection layer disposed on the anode; a hydrogen ion conductive solid oxide film disposed on the anode side chemical electrolyte protection layer; a cathode side chemical electrolyte protection layer disposed on the hydrogen ion conductive solid oxide film; and a cathode disposed on the cathode side chemical electrolyte protection layer.

Abstract: A fluidized bed integrated dry gas fuel cell (FB-IDG-FC) is provided. The FB-IDG-FC includes a solid oxide fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane disposed there between. The FB-IDG-FC further includes a conversion bed, where carbon dioxide gas is provided therein to convert carbon monoxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas. Solid carbonaceous fuel is provided to the conversion bed to promote the gas conversion. Carbon monoxide is provided as fuel to the anode, and air is supplied to the cathode to provide oxygen for oxidation of the carbon monoxide at the anode to generate electric power. No water is required, and oxygen is supplied for oxidation through an ionically selective solid oxide electrolyte membrane. This invention provides in situ capture and removal of sulfur, sulfurous compounds and other contaminants by solid sorbent from the carbon monoxide gas converted from carbon dioxide gas in the gasifier.

Abstract: An integrated dry gas fuel cell (IDG-FC) is provided. The IDG-FC includes at least one solid oxide fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The IDG-FC further includes a conversion bed, where carbon dioxide gas is provided to the conversion bed to convert carbon monoxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas. Solid carbonaceous fuel is provided to the conversion bed to promote the gas conversion. The carbon monoxide is provided as fuel to the anode, and air is supplied to the cathode to provide oxygen for oxidation of the carbon monoxide at the anode to generate electric power. This new process does not require water, and supplies the oxygen required for the oxidation reaction through an ionically selective solid oxide electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A proton-conducting solid oxide electrolyte membrane includes a nanoporous layer including a plurality of nanopores that penetrate from one surface to the other, and at least one proton conducting layer that fills the plurality of nanopores to have an interface in a direction perpendicular to either surface of the nanoporous layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a proton conductive solid oxide fuel cell, the method including: forming a metallic mask layer having nanoholes on a first surface of a substrate; selectively etching the first surface of the substrate using the metallic mask layer; depositing a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA) member on the etched first surface of the substrate; etching an opposing second surface of the substrate; and forming second and third MEA members on the first MEA member.

Abstract: A proton conducting electrolyte membrane comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer including an inorganic proton conductor and a ceramic protective layer formed on at least one surface of the ceramic electrolyte layer and having proton conductivity; a membrane electrode assembly including the proton conducting electrolyte membrane; and a proton conducting ceramic fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly. In the proton conducting electrolyte membrane, the ceramic protective layer may have an improved chemical bond with the ceramic electrolyte layer compared with a Pd metal protective layer, such that interlayer delamination may be lessened. Also, compared with a Pd metal protective layer, the ceramic protective layer is more appropriate for ceramic electrolytes such as BYZ and BYC that transmit protons or simultaneously transmit protons and oxygen ions used in a fuel cell operating at a temperature range of about 200 to about 500° C., for example, about 250 to about 500° C.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell with an electrolyte membrane having one or more layers with interfaces perpendicular to the surfaces of the membrane is provided. The layers can be deposited on vertical walls of holes in a nanoporous membrane until the layers fully fill the holes, thereby forming superlattices in the holes. The final shape of the superlattices in this example will be concentric, laminating layers as seen in a top view looking down on the membrane. According to one aspect, conventional electrodes can be deposited on both sides of the membrane for current collection and surface charge transfer reactions.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that includes a chemically non-reactive and non-consumable molten anode that is chemically stable in composition and structure and is catalytically active, a cathode, where one surface of the cathode is in contact with air, where the air supplies oxygen to the cathode, a solid oxide electrolyte that selectively transports oxide ions from the cathode to the anode for an oxidation reaction, where the solid oxide electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the solid cathode, and a single temperature zone, where the anode is in direct physical contact with a carbon-containing fuel and electrical current is generated by the oxidation of the carbon-containing fuel by the oxygen.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell is described. The DMFC uses a solid electrolyte that prevents methanol crossover. Optional chemical barriers may be employed to prevent CO2 contamination of the electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to direct conversion of coal into electricity in a high temperature electrochemical generator in a single step process. This novel concept promises nearly doubling the conversion efficiency of conventional coal-fired processes and offering near-zero emissions. The improved efficiency would mean that nearly half as much coal is mined and transported to the power plant, and half the greenhouse gases and other pollutants such as sulfur, mercury and dioxins are produced. It also offers several crucial distinctions from conventional coal-burning processes. Since the process does not involve the combustion of coal in air, it does not involve nitrogen and hence generates practically no NOx. Accordingly, there is also no latent heat lost to nitrogen. In this process, the oxygen necessary to oxidize coal is supplied through an ion selective ceramic membrane electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides solid oxide fuel cell that includes an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer, where the electrolyte membrane is disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The electrolyte membrane includes a solid electrolyte structure having at least two solid electrolyte nanoscopic closed-end tubes, where an open-ended base of each solid electrolyte nanoscopic closed-end tube is connected by a solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The current invention provides a fabrication method for large surface area, pinhole-free, ultra thin ion conducting membranes using atomic layer deposition on inexpensive sacrificial substrates to make cost effective, high performance fuel cells or electrolyzers. The resultant membrane electrode assembly (MEA) enables significant reduction in resistive losses as well as lowering of the operating temperature of the fuel cell. The invention further provides a method to deposit 3-dimensional surface conformal films that may have compositional grading for superior performance. In addition, the invention provides decoration and modification of electrode surfaces for enhanced catalytic activity and reduced polarization losses. The method of the current invention enables the MEA structure to be fabricated from the anode side up or the cathode side up, each with or without an incorporated anode current collector or cathode current collector, respectively.

Abstract: Provided are a method of preparing a fuel cell and a membrane electrode assembly prepared by the method. The method includes preparing a substrate, forming a buffer layer having a single crystalline structure on the substrate, forming a proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane on the buffer layer, forming a first electrode on one surface of the proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane, etching the substrate, and forming a second electrode on the opposite surface of the one surface of the electrolyte membrane. Thus, the method of preparing a fuel cell can improve ion conductivity of an electrolyte membrane at a low temperature and a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell prepared by the method can improve ion conductivity at a low temperature.