Abstract: Lithium nonaqueous rechargeable batteries are described in which the separators in the cells have been exposed to a radiation grafting process to increase wettability. This increases charging and discharging rates without use of a wetting agent or addition of undesirable substances to the electrolyte system. In a preferred embodiment, a particularly advantageous electrolyte solvent system (propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate) is used with excellent charge and discharge rates and excellent cycle life.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement on a method of making an electrode wherein a suspension in a liquid is prepared of a powdered catalyst containing a noble metal, carbon powder and a binder, and the suspension is poured over a carbon substrate dried, compressed and sintered to form a solid catalyst layer bonded to the carbon substrate. The improvement is placing a carbon paper on the catalyst layer prior to compressing. The improved electrode can be used as either a cathode or an anode in a sulfur dioxide depolarized electrolyzer in a process for producing hydrogen from water.

Abstract: Hydrogen gas is produced from water vapor by: (1) supplying water vapor to the cathode and SO.sub.2 to the anode of an electrolysis cell utilizing a solid oxide electrolyte which has a high oxygen ion conduction but which is impervious to H.sub.2 and SO.sub.2, between the cathode and anode, to provide H.sub.2 and a mixture of SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.3, (2) passing the SO.sub.3 into a reduction reactor operating at a temperature effective to decompose it and provide a mixture of SO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, and (3) passing the SO.sub.2 back to the anode of the electrolysis cell.

Abstract: A flow-by anode is disclosed made by preparing a liquid suspension of about to about 18% by weight solids, the solids comprising about 3.5 to about 8% of a powdered catalyst of platinum, palladium, palladium oxide, or mixtures thereof; about 60 to about 76% carbon powder (support) having a particle size less than about 20 m.mu.m and about 20 to about 33% of an inert binder having a particle size of less than about 500 m.mu.m. A sufficient amount of the suspension is poured over a carbon cloth to form a layer of solids about 0.01 to about 0.05 cm thick on the carbon cloth when the electrode is completed. A vacuum was applied to the opposite side of the carbon cloth to remove the liquid and the catalyst layer/cloth assembly is dried and compressed at about 10 to about 50 MPa's. The binder is then sintered in an inert atmosphere to complete the electrode. The electrode is used for the oxidation of sulfur dioxide in a sulfur based hybrid cycle for the decomposition of water.

Abstract: An improved electrode is disclosed for the anode in a sulfur cycle hydrogen generation process where sulfur dioxie is oxidized to form sulfuric acid at the anode. The active compound in the electrode is palladium, palladium oxide, an alloy of palladium, or a mixture thereof. The active compound may be deposited on a porous, stable, conductive substrate.