Abstract: An apparatus for separating water vapor from a water-vapor containing gas mixture is described. The apparatus may include a mixed ion conducting membrane having at least a portion of one surface exposed to the water-vapor containing gas mixture and at least a portion of a second surface, that is opposite the first surface, that is exposed to a second gas mixture with a lower partial pressure of water vapor. The membrane may include at least one non-porous, gas-impermeable, solid material that can simultaneously conduct oxygen ions and protons. At least some of the water vapor from the water-vapor containing gas mixture is selectively transported through the membrane to the second gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a reaction sintered YSZ. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrolyte that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrolyte, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a reaction sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia and metal oxide electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a two-phase composite that includes cubic YSZ and the metal oxide. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrode that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrode, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a two-phased sintered body that includes cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia and the metal oxide. The method may further include reducing the sintered body to form the electrode.

Abstract: A hydrogen and electrical power generating system that includes a hydrogen source to generate a mixture having hydrogen gas, and a ceramic fuel cell to generate power from a first portion of the mixture. The system also includes a hydrogen separator to generate purified hydrogen gas from a second portion of the mixture using a protonic ceramic membrane. Additionally, a hydrogen and electrical power generating system that includes a hydrogen source to generate a mixture having hydrogen gas, and a reversible fuel cell capable of generating electrical power and purified hydrogen gas from the mixture, where the reversible fuel cell has a protonic ceramic electrolyte. Also, a method of generating hydrogen and electrical power that includes the steps of providing a mixture comprising hydrogen gas, generating electric power from a first portion of the mixture with a protonic ceramic fuel cell, and generating purified hydrogen gas from a second portion of the mixture with a hydrogen separator.

Abstract: A proton conducting fuel cell that includes an electrolyte having a proton conducting ceramic electrolyte and a two-phase diffusion membrane electrode contacting the electrolyte, where the electrode is substantially non-porous and permeable to hydrogen. Also, a method of generating molecular hydrogen from a proton conducting fuel cell having a positive and negative electrode in contact with a proton conducting ceramic electrolyte, including selectively extracting pure hydrogen from a hydrogen gas mixture, and electrolyzing water vapor at a positive electrode of the fuel cell to form molecular oxygen (O2) and hydrogen ions, and reducing the hydrogen ions at a negative electrode of the fuel cell to form molecular hydrogen (H2).

Abstract: A process for converting a carbon containing fuel and water vapor into a reformate gas that includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, using water molecules that diffuse through a membrane by steam permeation reforming.