Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cell stack obtainable by a process comprising the use of a glass sealant with composition 50-70 wt % SiO2, 0-20 wt % Al2O3, 10-50 wt % CaO, 0-10 wt % MgO, 0-2 wt % (Na2O+K2O), 5-10 wt % B2O3, and 0-5 wt % of functional elements selected from TiO2, ZrO2, F, P2O5, MoO3, Fe2O3, MnO2, La—Sr—Mn—O perovskite (LSM) and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal-oxide-based ceramic, including, in order, the step of inserting, into a flash sintering device, a nanocrystalline powder comprising crystallites and crystallite agglomerates of a ceramic of formula, Zr1-xMxO2, where M is chosen from yttrium, scandium and cerium, or Ce1-xM?xO2, where M? is chosen from gadolinium, scandium, samarium and yttrium, where x lies between 0 and 0.2, the powder having an average crystallite size of between 5 and 50 nm, an average crystallite agglomerate size of between 0.5 and 20 ?m, and a specific surface area of between 20 and 100 m2/g. The invention further includes the step of flash sintering the powder by applying a pressure of between 50 and 150 MPa, at a temperature of between 850° C. and 1400° C., for a time of between 5 and 30 minutes.

Abstract: A solid oxide electrolyte membrane including a solid oxide electrolyte layer; and an insulating layer formed as a conformal layer on a single surface or two opposite surfaces of the solid oxide electrolyte layer and including nano-grains having a average crystal grain size of 30 nm or less, a method of manufacturing the solid oxide electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the solid oxide electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising (A) a liquid alkenyl-containing organopolysiloxane with Mw<100,000, (B) a gum-like organopolysiloxane with Mw?150,000, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (D) fumed silica, and (E) an addition reaction catalyst and having a viscosity of 20-200 Pa-s at a shear rate of 10 s?1 and 25° C. is effectively injection moldable into a cured product which is useful as a separator seal in PEFCs.

Abstract: A method of making a planar solid oxide fuel cell is described involving: (1) sintering at least an electrolyte layer; (2) juxtaposing one of a sintered anode or cathode layer with a metal substrate, with a bonding agent therebetween; and (3) applying heat to bond the juxtaposed anode or cathode layer to the metal substrate; where the anode and cathode layers are each sintered, together or independently, simultaneously with sintering the electrolyte layer, simultaneously with applying heat to bond the ceramic fuel cell element to the metal substrate, or in one or more separate sintering steps.

Abstract: A proton conductor system includes a solid oxide having at least one hydrogen vibrational mode defined by a bandwidth and resonance frequency. A light source irradiates the solid oxide with infrared light in a wavelength band having a center frequency matching the resonance frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adjuvant capable of imparting a hydrophilic or superhydrophilic function to various materials or interfaces. The hydrophilic adjuvant comprises: a composite metal oxide containing Si and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Sn(IV) and Al(III); and a hydrophilic group-containing organic compound physically or chemically bonded with the Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Sn(IV) or Al of the composite metal oxide.

Abstract: A c-axis-oriented HAP thin film synthesized by seeded growth on a palladium hydrogen membrane substrate. An exemplary synthetic process includes electrochemical seeding on the substrate, and secondary and tertiary hydrothermal treatments under conditions that favor growth along c-axes and a-axes in sequence. By adjusting corresponding synthetic conditions, an HAP this film can be grown to a controllable thickness with a dense coverage on the underlying substrate. The thin films have relatively high proton conductivity under hydrogen atmosphere and high temperature conditions. The c-axis oriented films may be integrated into fuel cells for application in the intermediate temperature range of 200-600° C. The electrochemical-hydrothermal deposition technique may be applied to create other oriented crystal materials having optimized properties, useful for separations and catalysis as well as electronic and electrochemical applications, electrochemical membrane reactors, and in chemical sensors.

Abstract: A proton-conductive inorganic thin film including an inorganic proton conductor, a method of forming the proton-conductive inorganic thin film, and a fuel cell including the proton-conductive inorganic thin film as an electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a double-layer anode structure on a pretreated porous metal substrate and a method for fabricating the same, for improving the redox stability and decreasing the anode polarization resistance of a SOFC. The anode structure comprises: a porous metal substrate of high gas permeability; a first porous anode functional layer, formed on the porous metal substrate by a high-voltage high-enthalpy Ar—He—H2—N2 atmospheric-pressure plasma spraying process; and a second porous anode functional layer, formed on the first porous anode functional layer by a high-voltage high-enthalpy Ar—He—H2—N2 atmospheric-pressure plasma spraying and hydrogen reduction. The first porous anode functional layer is composed a redox stable perovskite, the second porous anode functional layer is composed of a nanostructured cermet. The first porous anode functional layer is also used to prevent the second porous anode functional layer from being diffused by the composition elements of the porous metal substrate.

Abstract: The solid oxide fuel cell of the present invention has a substrate (1); an electrolyte (3) that is disposed on one surface of the substrate (1); and at least one electrode element E having an anode (5) and a cathode (7) disposed on the same surface of the electrolyte (3) with a predetermined space therebetween.

Abstract: Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising manganese oxides which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are provided.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell and a fuel cell stack are disclosed. The fuel cell stack may include a current collector electrically connected to inner and outer circumferential surfaces of a unit cell and a cap structure. The connection process between the current collector and the unit cell may be easily performed. As an external current collecting portion may be formed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the unit cell. Unit cells may be coupled to manifolds and electrically connected to one another.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell including a unit cell formed into a structure in which a first electrode, an electrolytic layer and a second electrode are sequentially stacked is disclosed. The unit cell of solid oxide fuel cell may include a plurality of contact grooves formed on an outer circumferential surface of the second electrode and may include current collectors respectively mounted on and in surface contact with the contact grooves of the second electrode. The current collectors may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the center axis of the unit cell. Current collection efficiency may thus be enhanced. Further, current collectors may be shared by adjacent unit cells, so that it is possible to manufacture a stack with excellent economical efficiency.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell assembly includes a unit cell including an anode, an electrolytic layer, and a cathode that are sequentially stacked, and an adapter at one end of the unit cell, the adapter being coupled to the anode or the cathode of the unit cell and configured to collect current.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a combustor, a heat exchanger, and heat utilization equipment. Further, the fuel cell system includes a bypass channel and a control device. In the bypass channel, at least some of heat medium produced in the combustor is supplied to the heat utilization equipment, bypassing the heat exchanger. The control unit adjusts the supply of the heat energy supplied to the fuel cell stack through an oxygen-containing gas heated by the heat exchanger, and adjusts the heat energy of the heat medium which passes through the bypass channel, and which is supplied to the heat utilization equipment.

Abstract: The present invention concerns chemically stable solid lithium ion conductors, processes for their production and their use in batteries, accumulators, supercaps and electrochromic devices.

Abstract: Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising manganese oxides which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell having a gradient structure in which pore size becomes gradually smaller from a porous electrode to an electrolyte thin film in order to form a dense electrolyte thin film of less than about 2 microns and preferably less than 1 micron on the porous electrode.

Abstract: Proton-conducting hybrid glass and a method for manufacturing the same. The proton-conducting hybrid glass has CsPWA created inside the pores of borosilicate glass. The proton-conducting hybrid glass can be used as an electrolyte for electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells and sensors. When the proton-conducting hybrid glass is used as an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, excellent thermal and chemical stability is realized in the range from a high temperature to an intermediate temperature of 120° C. A high proton conductivity of 10?3S/cm or higher and good catalytic activity are realized. In addition, high volumetric stability and excellent moisture retention characteristics in high and intermediate temperature ranges are achieved.

Abstract: A solid oxide electrolyte including an oxide represented by Formula 1: (1?a?b)(Ce1-xMaxO2-?)+a(Mb)+b(Mc)??Formula 1 wherein 0<a<0.2, 0<b<0.2, 0<x<0.5, ? is selected so that the Ce1-xMaxO2-? is electrically neutral, Ma is a rare-earth metal, Mb is an oxide, a nitride, or a carbide of aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), magnesium (Mg), or titanium (Ti), or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, and Mc is an oxide of a metal of Groups 6 through 11.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrical circuit is presented that includes an anode conductor formed from a first wire and a cathode conductor formed from a second wire. The first wire and the second wire each comprised of a predetermined diameter. At least a portion of the predetermined diameter of the wires is compressed or extruded to provide an increased surface area. The conductors are disposed about an electrolyte material of an energy generating device, e.g., a fuel cell. The increased surface area of the leads increases a total collected energy of the fuel cell without increasing the conductor mass or tensile strength such that weight and other characteristics of the fuel cell are not adversely impacted as compared to conventional fuel cell arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention provides structures and methods that utilize fuel reformation to assist in thermal management of a channel-less SOFC at the device cell and/or stack assembly level. At the device level, passive and/or active control of unreformed fuel, or a mixture of reformed and unreformed fuel, is used to inject fuel in a distributed manner along the anode chamber of the channel-less SOFC. The injected fuel can be controlled in its composition, pressure, velocities, and/or flow rates. Additionally, present invention provides thermal management across a plurality of fuel cells in a stack assembly by actively controlling fuel composition, pressure, velocities, and/or flow rates provided to fuel inlets of the fuel cells.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an SOFC, a cathode current-collecting wire is spirally wound around the outer circumferential surface of a unit cell having a cylindrical anode, a cylindrical electrolyte and a cylindrical cathode, sequentially stacked therein. In the method, the length of a portion at which the cathode current-collecting wire is wound is shorter than that of a portion at which the cathode is formed. Accordingly, the stability of the SOFC can be improved by preventing a phenomenon that the SOFC is shorted due to the breakdown of an electrolyte in the operation of the SOFC.

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 module includes a fuel cell tube defining a fuel cell tube inner chamber. The fuel cell tube includes a fuel cell tube inlet, a fuel cell tube outlet, an active portion, and an inner current carrier. Oxidizing fluid and reducing fluid react with the active portion to generate an electromotive force. The active portion includes an inner electrode; an outer electrode; and an electrolyte disposed between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. The inner current carrier is disposed between the tube inlet and the active portion. The inner current carrier has a temperature gradient when the active portion is at an active portion steady-state operating temperature. The solid oxide fuel cell module further includes a fuel feed tube routing fuel through the fuel cell tube inlet to the fuel cell tube inner chamber.

Abstract: A stack structure includes plate-like electrochemical cells of ceramic, each having a pair of main surfaces and a side surface, and plate-like retainer pieces. The cell includes a first electrode in contact with first gas, a solid electrolyte, and a second electrode in contact with second gas. The first electrode has a gas flow channel formed therein and adapted to allow flow of the first gas. The cell has gas inflow and outflow ports. The retainer piece includes a body portion having a through-hole formed therein, and a pair of protrusions protruding from the body portion. The retainer piece has a communication hole formed therein and adapted to establish communication between the through-hole and a space formed between the protrusions. The cell is held by the paired protrusions, thereby establishing communication between the gas inflow or outflow port of the cell and the communication hole of the retainer piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell in which electricity is generated and a paraffin is converted to an olefin. Between the anode and cathode compartment of the fuel cell is a ceramic membrane of the formula BaCe0.85-eLfY0.05-0.25O(3-?) wherein L is a lanthanide and f is from 0 to 0.25 and ? is the oxygen deficiency in the ceramic.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell and at least one gas flow channel to deliver a reactant mixture. The fuel cell comprises at least one chamber to house at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrolyte, and the fuel cell is adapted to receive a reactant mixture comprising reactants mixed prior to delivery to the fuel cell. The one or more gas flow channels for delivering the reactant mixture have characteristic dimensions that are less than a quench distance of the reactant mixture at an operating temperature within the solid oxide fuel cell system.

Abstract: A proton-conducting structure that exhibits favorable proton conductivity in the temperature range of not lower than 100° C., and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. After a pyrophosphate salt containing Sn, Zr, Ti or Si is mixed with phosphoric acid, the mixture is maintained at a temperature of not less than 80° C. and not more than 150° C., and thereafter maintained at a temperature of not less than 200° C. and not more than 400° C. to manufacture a proton-conducting structure. The proton-conducting structure of the present invention has a core made of tin pyrophosphate, and a coating layer formed on the surface of the core, the coating layer containing Sn and O, and having a coordination number of O with respect to Sn of greater than 6.

Abstract: A system for storing and retrieving elemental hydrogen. The system includes a housing, a hydrogen storage element enclosed within the housing and having a solid-state hydrogen storage material, and a control system for regulating storage of hydrogen into and retrieval of hydrogen from the storage material. At least a portion of the storage material is a porous matrix material having atoms of a first element capable of bonding with more than one hydrogen atom per atom of the first element, and atoms of a second element capable of molecularly bonding to atoms of the first element and hydrogen. Different atoms of the first element have bond sites available for different numbers of hydrogen atoms at different levels of bonding energy. The atoms of the second element are bonded to those atoms of the first element having bond sites for more than one hydrogen atom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrolyte for an SOFC battery comprising a CVD (chemical vapour deposition) deposition step, on a substrate, of a stack of at least three layers of materials YSZ/X/YSZ, X being a different material than YSZ.

Abstract: A reduced cost solid oxide fuel cell having enhanced surface exchange rates and diffusivity of oxide ions is provided. The invention cell includes a first porous electrode and a second porous electrode, where the porous electrodes have a layer of electronically conductive porous non-precious metal, and the porous non-precious metal layer is a gas diffusion layer. The porous electrodes further include at least one atomic layer of catalytic metal deposited on the non-precious metal layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode. The electrolyte layer includes a first dense ion-conductive doped oxide film layer, and a second dense ion-conductive doped oxide film layer deposited on the first doped oxide film layer, where the catalytic metal layer on the conductive porous non-metal layer enhances surface exchange rates and diffusivity of the oxide ions, thus the material costs of the fuel cell are reduced.

Abstract: An electrolyte plate for an electrochemical system including a first face and a second face, being opposite each other, of largest surface area, the first face including linear parallel ribs and the second face including linear parallel ribs. The plate thus exhibits an increased rigidity without substantially increasing the thickness thereof.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an electrode comprised of a first layer which comprises a mesoporous nanostructured hydrophobic material; and a second layer which comprises a mesoporous nanostructured hydrophilic material arranged on the first layer. In a further aspect, the present invention refers to an electrode comprised of a single layer which comprises a mixture of a mesoporous nanostructured hydrophobic material and a mesoporous nanostructured hydrophilic material; or a single layer comprised of a porous nanostructured material wherein the porous nanostructured material comprises metallic nanostructures which are bound to the surface of the porous nanostructured material. The present invention further refers to the manufacture of these electrodes and their use in metal-air batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a high heat recovery efficiency for effectively collecting heat discharged from a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell includes a power generating cell and a separator which are alternately laminated to constitute a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stacks are disposed in the central area of a power generating reaction chamber to form two columns-by-two rows array in a plan view. A cross-shaped fuel reformer is arranged between the opposing sides of the fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive layer of material having a composition comprising lanthanum and strontium is described. The material is characterized by a microstructure having bimodal porosity. Another concept in this disclosure relates to a solid oxide fuel cell attached to at least one cathode interconnect by a cathode bond layer. The bond layer includes a microstructure having bimodal porosity. A fuel cell stack which incorporates at least one of the cathode bond layers is also described herein, along with related processes for forming the cathode bond layer.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an inorganic proton conducting electrolyte consisting of a mesoporous crystalline metal oxide matrix and a heteropolyacid bound within the mesoporous matrix. The present invention also refers to a fuel cell including such an electrolyte and methods for manufacturing such inorganic electrolytes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrochemical-catalytic converter, which can remove nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HCs) in exhaust gas and generate electric power simultaneously. The electrochemical-catalytic converter comprises a cell module, wherein nitrogen oxides are reacted electrochemically to form nitrogen, and wherein carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are catalyzed to form carbon dioxide and water by an oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: Anode catalysts for conversion of hydrocarbon feeds in solid oxide fuel cell membrane reactors. An anode catalyst may be a mixture of a metal with a metal oxide, for example a mixture of copper or copper-nickel alloy or copper-cobalt alloy with Cr2O3. Mixed oxides can be prepared by dissolving into water soluble salts of the different metals, chelating the metal ions with a chelating agent, neutralizing the solution, removing water by evaporation to form a gel which then is dried, and finally heating the dried gel to form a mixed oxide of the different metals. The chelating agent can be citrate ions, and ammonia can be added to the solution until the pH of the solution is about 8. The mixed oxide so formed then is reduced, for example by hydrogen, to form a composite comprising the metal (Cu, Cu—Co, Cu—Ni) and metal oxide, here Cr2O3.

Abstract: An integral ceramic membrane for a fuel cell is provided, with a non-porous layer and porous layers both formed of proton conducting material. The proton-conducting material may be a compound or mixture of compounds of the formula X1-X2-O3-? where X1=Ba, Sr or mixtures thereof and X2=Ce, Zr, Y, Nd, Yb, Sm, La, Hf, Pr or mixtures thereof. The combined atomic ratio of Y, Nd, Yb, Sm and La to Ba and Sr may in an embodiment be between 0.1 and 0.3 inclusive.

Abstract: The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side. The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products. Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.

Abstract: Structures, deposition systems and deposition processes related generally to a solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are provided. A nanometer to submicron laminar structure of LaxSryMnOz is used as an interconnect layer or interface layer between a cathode and an electrolyte for the SOFCs. The SOFC includes a cathode layer, an interface layer coupled to the cathode layer, and an electrolyte coupled to the interface layer. The interface layer includes a plurality of first layers characterized by a first density interleaved with a plurality of second layers characterized by a second density. The first density is lower than the second density. Furthermore, one of the plurality of the first layers is coupled to the cathode layer. Moreover, one of the plurality of the second layers is coupled to the electrolyte. The laminar structure of LaxSryMnOz has been applied to the SOFCs to reduce performance degradation in the SOFCs.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a plurality of fuel cell tubes. Each fuel cell includes an active area and an anode outer surface disposed downstream the active area. The solid oxide fuel cell tube further includes an interconnect member disposed circumferentially around the fuel cell tube electrically contacting the anode outer surface.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell and a brazing method between a cell and a cap of a fuel cell capable of simplifying a brazing process relative to the related art are disclosed. Thus, improved production efficiency and an air seal while saving on the amount of filler metal used is achieved, by improving the structure of the sealing cap combined with the end of the cell. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a hollow tube type cell and a sealing cap combined with the end of the cell, the cap has a structure in which a passage tube which is in contact with a hollow portion of the cell is provided in the center of the cap and a combination tube combined with the cell end is integrally provided on the circumference of the passage tube to form a cell insertion space between the passage tube and the combination tube, and a brazing surface formed on the bottom of the cell insertion space and a filler metal diffusion space formed at the side of the brazing surface.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, and an anode electrode. The electrolyte and/or electrode composition includes zirconia stabilized with (i) scandia, (ii) ceria, and (iii) at least one of yttria and ytterbia. The composition does not experience a degradation of ionic conductivity of greater than 15% after 4000 hrs at a temperature of 850° C.

Abstract: Electronic devices prepared from nanoscale powders are described. Methods for utilizing nanoscale powders and related nanotechnology to prepare capacitors, inductors, resistors, thermistors, varistors, filters, arrays, interconnects, optical components, batteries, fuel cells, sensors and other products are discussed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell in which electricity is generated and a paraffin is converted to an olefin. Between the anode and cathode compartment of the fuel cell is a ceramic membrane of the formula BaCe0.85-eAe LfY0.05-0.25 O(3-?) wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Hf and Zr and mixtures thereof, e is from 0.1 to 0.5, L is a lanthanide and f is from 0 to 0.25 and ? is the oxygen deficiency in the ceramic.

Abstract: A composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell is disclosed. The membrane is formed of a polymer having layers of a clay-based cation exchange material. The substrate comprises an electrode formed from a solution that has an exfoliated, inorganic, sodium-based cation exchange material, an ionically conductive polymer-based material, and a solvent-dispersant.