Abstract: Electrochemical device using thin micro-porous metal sheets. The porous metal sheet may have a thickness less than 200 ?m, provides three-dimensional networked pore structures of pore sizes in the range of 2.0 nm to 5.0 ?m, and is electrically conductive. The micro-porous metal sheet is used for positively and/or negatively-charged electrodes by providing large specific contact surface area of reactants/electron. Nano-sized catalyst or features can be added inside pores of the porous metal sheet of pore sizes at sub- and micrometer scale to enhance the reaction activity and capacity. Micro-porous ceramic materials may be coated on the porous metal sheet at a thickness of less than 40 ?m to enhance the functionality of the porous metal sheet and may function as a membrane separator. The electrochemical device may be used for decomposing molecules and for synthesis of molecules such as synthesis of ammonia from water and nitrogen molecules.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas generator for ammonia with the use of ionic liquids containing nitrate ions as the electrolyte and to the use of the gas generator for generating gaseous ammonia, especially for testing the function of and/or calibrating gas sensors.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of converting nitrogen into ammonia. The method comprises contacting an electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of dissolved nitrogen gas. The electrocatalyst comprises carbon nanospikes doped with nitrogen.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and system used for making nitrogen trifluoride consisting of a computer and an electrolytic cell having a body, an electrolyte, at least one anode chamber that produces an anode product gas, at least one cathode chamber, and one or more fluorine adjustment means to maintain fluorine or hydrogen in the anode product gas within a target amount by adjusting the concentration of fluorine in said anode product gas, and the process that controls the system.

Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods for producing ammonia are provided. One embodiment has uses in a plurality of environments and an electrode configured to be exposed to the plurality of environments. The electrode is configured to receive hydrogen while being exposed to one of the environments, reduce nitrogen while being exposed to another environment, and allow the hydrogen and nitrogen to react with each other to form ammonia. Other embodiments provide for simultaneous hydrogen oxidation and nitrogen reduction at the same electrode, which in turn react for formation of ammonia.

Abstract: A hydrogen production method includes: a first process in which nitrogen compounds of metal and water are reacted to produce ammonia and hydroxide of the metal; a second process in which hydrogen compounds of a metal and the ammonia produced in the first process are reacted; and a third process in which hydrogen compounds of a metal and the hydroxide of the metal produced in the first process are reacted.

Abstract: It is a task of the present invention to provide an electrolytic apparatus for producing fluorine or nitrogen trifluoride by electrolyzing a hydrogen fluoride-containing molten salt, the electrolytic apparatus being advantageous in that the electrolysis can be performed without the occurrence of the anode effect even at a high current density and without the occurrence of an anodic dissolution. In the present invention, this task has been accomplished by an electrolytic apparatus for producing fluorine or nitrogen trifluoride by electrolyzing a hydrogen fluoride-containing molten salt at an applied current density of from 1 to 1,000 A/dm2, the electrolytic apparatus using a conductive diamond-coated electrode as an anode.

Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods for producing ammonia are provided. One embodiment has uses a plurality of environments and an electrode configured to be exposed to the plurality of environments. The electrode is configured to receive hydrogen while being exposed to one of the environments, reduce nitrogen while being exposed to another environment, and allow the hydrogen and nitrogen to react with each other to form ammonia. Other embodiments provide for simultaneous hydrogen oxidation and nitrogen reduction at the same electrode, which in turn react for formation of ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for removing a substance (X) from a solid metal or semi-metal compound (M1X) by electrolysis in a melt of M2Y, which comprises conducting the electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of X rather than M2 deposition occurs at a electrode surface, and that X dissolves in the electrolyte M2Y. The substance X is either removed from the surface (i.e., M1X) or by means of diffusion extracted from the case material. The temperature of the fused salt is chosen below the melting temperature of the metal M1. The potential is chosen below the decomposition potential of the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method for the electrochemical synthesis of dinitro compounds is disclosed. The method comprises using an anode to oxidize an inactive chemical mediator, such as a ferrocyanide (Fe(CN)6?4) ion, to an active chemical mediator or oxidizing agent, such as a ferricyanide (Fe(CN)6?3) ion, in the presence of a differential voltage. The oxidizing agent reacts with a nitro compound and a nitrite ion to form a geminal dinitro compound. The anode may continuously oxidize ferrocyanide to regenerate active ferricyanide, thus keeping sufficient amounts of ferricyanide available for reaction.

Abstract: A carbon electrode for producing gaseous nitrogen trifluoride comprising a dense texture with an average pore size of 0.5 ?m or less is provided. The carbon electrode contains a carbonaceous material, and 3 to 10 wt % of at least one selected from magnesium fluoride and aluminum fluoride which have a melting point not lower than the baking temperature of the carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A method for the production of an intermetallic compound (M1Z) involves treating a solid precursor material comprising three or more species, including first and second metal or metalloid species (M1, Z) and a non-metal species (X), by electro-deoxidation in contact with a melt comprising a fused salt (M2Y) under conditions whereby the non-metal species dissolves in the melt. The first and second metal or metalloid species form an intermetallic compound. The method is performed in a cell comprising a cathode of the precursor material (2), which is immersed in a melt (8) contained in a crucible (6) for electro-deoxidation.

Abstract: A method for the anodic electrochemical synthesis of ammonia gas. The method comprises providing an electrolyte between an anode and a cathode, providing nitrogen and hydrogen gases to the cathode, oxidizing negatively charged nitrogen-containing species and negatively charged hydrogen-containing species present in the electrolyte at the anode to form adsorbed nitrogen species and adsorbed hydrogen species, respectively, and reacting the adsorbed nitrogen species with the adsorbed hydrogen species to form ammonia. Nitrogen and hydrogen gases may be provided through a porous cathode substrate. The negatively charged nitrogen-containing species in the electrolyte may be produced by reducing nitrogen gas at the cathode and/or by supplying a nitrogen-containing salt, such as lithium nitride, into the molten salt electrolyte.

Abstract: A method for electrochemical synthesis of ammonia gas comprising providing an electrolyte between an anode and a cathode, providing hydrogen gas to the anode, oxidizing negatively charged nitrogen-containing species present in the electrolyte at the anode to form an adsorbed nitrogen species, and reacting the hydrogen with the adsorbed nitrogen species to form ammonia. Preferably, the hydrogen gas is provided to the anode by passing the hydrogen gas through a porous anode substrate. It is also preferred to produce the negatively charged nitrogen-containing species in the electrolyte by reducing nitrogen gas at the cathode. However, the negatively charged nitrogen-containing species may also be provided by supplying a nitrogen-containing salt, such as lithium nitride, into the molten salt electrolyte mixture in a sufficient amount to provide some or all of the nitrogen consumed in the production of ammonia.

Abstract: An electrode for electrolyzing an electrolyte comprising an ammonium fluoride (NH4F)-hydrogen fluoride (HF)-containing molten salt and having a composition ratio (HF/NH4F) of 1 to 3 to prepare a nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gas and an electrolyte for use in the preparation of NF3 gas, and a preparation method of the NF3 gas by the use of the electrode and the electrolyte. The electrode comprises nickel having 0.07 wt % or less of Si content and containing a transition metal other than nickel. The electrolyte also contains a transition metal other than nickel.

Abstract: The aim of the present invention is a process for preparing a mineral matrix by melting, which is implemented according to the method of direct cold crucible induction melting. The method employs a step for initiating the melting. During the initiation step, a conductive mineral load is generated, by introduction of constituent elements of the matrix, into a bath of a conductive liquid, brought by induction to a suitable temperature, in the cold crucible. The intervening conductive liquid has the property of being a liquid and an electric conductor at a temperature between &thgr;1 of less than 600° C., advantageously of between 100 and 500° C., and a temperature &thgr;2 at least equal to the temperature at which the constituent elements of the matrix melt to generate the matrix. The conductive liquid is advantageously a molten sodium hydroxide bath. The preparation of such a glass matrix is advantageously implemented within the context of a method of vitrifying radioactive waste materials.

Abstract: A process for producing high-purity nitrogen trifluoride gas by molten salt electrolysis using a nickel electrode and ammonium hydrogenfluoride as an electrolyte, wherein carbon element constituting impurity gases entrained in a crude gas, among impurities in the nickel electrode as an anode is controlled to an amount of 400 wt ppm or less. The process allows high-purity nitrogen trifluoride gas to be produced with a purity of 4N or higher.

Abstract: In order to shorten the waiting times until the equilibrium between cyanate and cyanide is established and to limit the use of substances and products containing cyanide for nitrocarburizing in salt melts, melts containing only cyanate and optionally carbonate are electrolyzed at a current density of 4 to 100 A/dm.sup.2 of electrode area to form an advantageous cyanide content of 1 to 5 wt. %.

Abstract: A method for the production of nitrogen trifluoride (NF.sub.3) and hydrogen (H.sub.2) gas, starting with a molten flux including at least ammonia (NH.sub.3), a metal fluoride, and hydrogen fluoride (HF), including the steps of: circulating the molten flux from an electrolyzer, to an ammonia solubilizer, to a nitrogen trifluoride reactor, to a hydrogen fluoride solubilizer, and back to the electrolyzer; maintaining the quantity of the molten flux substantially constant by adding ammonia (NH.sub.3) and a carrier gas to the ammonia solubilizer and by adding hydrogen fluoride (HF) and a carrier gas to the hydrogen fluoride solubilizer; producing fluorine (F.sub.2) gas and hydrogen (H.sub.