Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell which can obtain a sufficiently high electromotive force even under a low-temperature condition such as room temperature without using a deleterious substance or platinum. This fuel cell uses an electrolyte layer containing a layer-shaped metal oxide which has been subjected to the steam treatment.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack includes a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells, wherein each solid oxide fuel cell comprises an electrolyte located between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a plurality of gas separators, and at least one compliant cathode contact material. The contact material may be a metallic felt, foam or mesh, an electrically conductive glass or an electrically conductive ceramic felt located between at least one of the plurality of gas separators and a cathode electrode of an adjacent solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: An anode supported solid oxide fuel cell including a cylinder-type anode, the cylinder-type anode having a hollow part therein; an electrolyte and an air gap sequentially laminated on an outer peripheral surface of the anode; and a plurality of conductors in the hollow part, the conductors being capable of current collecting in the cell.

Abstract: Powders of respective metal elements (Mn, Co) constituting a transition metal oxide (MnCo2O4) having a spinel type crystal structure are used as a starting material. A paste containing the mixture of the powders is interposed between an air electrode and an interconnector, and with this state, a sintering is performed, whereby a bonding agent (sintered body) is formed to obtain the bonding member according to the present invention. In the bonding member, a chromia layer including Cr2O3, a first layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and O, and a second layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, and O are provided in this order from the side close to the interconnector at the bonding portion between the bonding agent and the interconnector. The bonding member has sufficiently great bonding strength between the interconnector and the bonding agent.

Abstract: Provided is a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell in which a metal supported cell formed at one side or both sides of a unit cell is directly welded to a separation plate so as to achieve sealing therebetween, thereby preventing fuel gas and air from being leaked or mixed before reaction, and the fuel gas and air are supplied through each assigned passage so as to increase energy production efficiency and also remarkably enhance durability and sealing efficiency.

Abstract: A fuel electrode material including a metal oxide having a perovskite type crystalline structure and represented by Formula 1: A1-xA?xB1-yB?yO3??Formula 1 wherein A and A? are different from each other and A and A? each independently include at least one element selected from the group consisting of strontium (Sr), yttrium (Y), samarium (Sm), lanthanum (La), and calcium (Ca); B includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), and nickel (Ni); B? is different from B and includes at least one transition metal; x is about 0.001 to about 0.08; and y is about 0.001 to about 0.5.

Abstract: This invention concerns a high temperature fuel cell with mixed anionic and protonic conduction having a protonic conduction reforming membrane directly coupled to a solid oxide fuel cell with conduction by oxygen ions, enabling use of a gradually reforming anode generating carbon deposits to be avoided. The reverse operation of the present invention outside the reforming stage forms a high water temperature electrolyser to produce hydrogen efficiently without having to separate it from water as is the case with current systems.

Abstract: A Perovskite-like structure and its device applications are disclosed. One Perovskite-like structure disclosed includes a compound having an empirical chemical formula [A(ByC1-Y)Oz]x, where x, y, and z are numerical ranges. In select embodiments, A comprises one or more divalent metal ions, B comprises one or more monovalent metal ions, C comprises one or more pentavalent metal ions, O is oxygen; and wherein x?1, 0.1?y?0.9, 2.5?z?3, and wherein the net charge of A is +2, and the net charge Of (ByC1-y) is +4.

Abstract: An inorganic proton conductor and an electrochemical device using the inorganic proton conductor, the inorganic proton conductor including a tetravalent metallic element and an alkali metal.

Abstract: An electronically insulating proton conductor (C) is adhered or deposited as a film on a dense phase proton permeable material (D) in a thicknees such that the composite C/D has a proton conductivity in a preferred intermediate temperature range of 175-550° C. The composite C/D is incorporated in a high temperature electrolyte membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA), which is incorporated into a fuel cell that can operate in this intermediate temperature range. The fuel cell in turn is incorporated into a fuel cell system having a fuel reformer in the flow field of a fuel mixture entering the fuel cell or in a mode where the fuel cell receives fuel from an external reformer.

Abstract: An electric power generation cell 1 is constituted by arranging a fuel electrode layer 4 on one side of a solid electrolyte layer 3 and an air electrode layer 2 on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer 3. The solid electrolyte layer 3 is constituted of an oxide ion conductor mainly composed of a lanthanum gallate based oxide. The fuel electrode layer 4 is constituted of a porous sintered compact having a highly dispersed network structure in which a skeletal structure formed of a consecutive array of metal grains is surrounded by mixed conductive oxide grains. For the air electrode layer 2, a porous sintered compact mainly composed of cobaltite is used. This configuration reduces the overpotentials of the respective electrodes and the IR loss of the solid electrolyte layer 3, and accordingly can actualize a solid oxide type fuel cell excellent in electric power generation efficiency.

Abstract: A multi-function bundle having all of the basic support functions integrated therein can be used as a basic building block component, for example, in a fuel cell engine. The multi-function bundle is modular, easy to assemble, and able to withstand the physical and thermal shocks encountered in mobile applications. The multi-function bundle utilizes fully distributed fuel and oxidant supply systems which help to reduce temperature gradients throughout the array of fuel cells. The multi-function bundle may be comprised of a plurality of fuel cells, an oxidant supply system, a fuel supply system and a support structure which integrates the fuel cells, oxidant supply system, and fuel supply system into a single unit. The oxidant and fuel supply systems may be fully distributed. The fuel supply system may include one or more fuel feed tube assemblies which allow distributed internal fuel reformation and reduce temperature gradients throughout the array of fuel cells.

Abstract: A high temperature fuel cell stack system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, with an improved balance of plant efficiency includes a thermally integrated reformer, combustor and the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The process described herein provides a simple and cost effective method for making crack free, high density thin ceramic film. The steps involve depositing a layer of a ceramic material on a porous or dense substrate. The deposited layer is compacted and then the resultant laminate is sintered to achieve a higher density than would have been possible without the pre-firing compaction step.

Abstract: A method for fueling a solid oxide fuel cell stack is provided. The method includes passing a first portion of hydrocarbon fuel through a catalytic hydrocarbon reformer to generate a first reformate. The first reformate is passed through a hydrocarbon cracker to generate a second reformate such that a portion of any non-reformed hydrocarbon fuel in the first reformate is converted to methane. The second reformate is supplied to the fuel cell stack.

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 grater than 6.

Abstract: Provided is a disc type solid oxide fuel cell; and, more particularly, to a disc type solid oxide fuel cell in which each element is stacked on a supporting member, thereby improving stacking efficiency and also reducing a size of the fuel cell, and in which a unit cell is sinter-bonded with a metal supporter and the metal supporter is welded to a separating plate, thereby improving durability and sealing ability.

Abstract: A current collector for a fuel cell that includes at least one wire having an inner core of high conductivity metal and an outer cladding of an environmentally isolating material. The current collector may be utilized in both an oxidizing and reducing environment.

Abstract: The invention is directed to insulating compositions for use in solid oxide fuel cells. Such compositions can be used to prevent seal damage and increase the electrical and ion efficiency.

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 solid oxide fuel cell includes plural anodes and plural cathodes, which are alternately stacked on each other and have non-overlapping sections where the anodes and the cathodes do not overlap partially. The plural anodes are electrically connected to the first electrode, and the plural cathodes are electrically connected to the second electrode. At least between the anode and the cathode, the solid electrolyte is installed. Partitioning sections are disposed between each of the cathodes and the first electrode, and between each of the anodes and the second electrode.

Abstract: A monolithic electrolytic assembly (MEA), as well as associated structures and processes operative in the general field of solid oxide electrolytic devices, is disclosed. The invention provides a reliable and durable interconnect for both structural and electrical components of such devices. In the present invention, thin-film-based solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide oxygen/hydrogen generators may be fabricated using primarily solid metal alloys as underlying components of thin film and thick film structures built thereon.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a metal frame, a porous metal substrate, a first anode isolation layer, an anode interlayer, a second anode isolation layer, an electrolyte layer, a cathode isolation layer, a cathode interlayer and a cathode current collecting layer. The first anode isolation layer, the anode interlayer, the second anode isolation layer, the electrolyte layer, the cathode isolation layer, the cathode interlayer and the cathode current collecting layer are sequentially disposed on the porous metal substrate. The first anode isolation layer is porous sub-micron structured or porous micron structured; the anode interlayer is porous nano structured; the second anode isolation layer is dense structured or porous nano structured; the electrolyte is dense and gas-tight; the cathode isolation layer is dense structured or porous nano structured; the cathode interlayer is porous nano structured or porous sub-micron structured; and the cathode current collecting layer is porous micron structured.

Abstract: A stacked body for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a fuel electrode layer having a fuel channel formed therein, an electrolyte layer, and an air electrode layer. The fuel electrode layer contains zircon. With this, the degree of the contraction of the fuel electrode layer, which is produced when a reduction process is executed to the fuel electrode layer in order to allow the fuel electrode layer to function as an anode electrode, can be suppressed. When a reduction process is performed to the fuel channel in the assembled stack structure that includes plural stacked bodies and plural interconnectors, the present invention can prevent the occurrence of the situation in which the electrical connection is lost at a part of the electrically connected portion between the stacked body and the interconnector due to the contraction.

Abstract: A clamping structure for a planar solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a flexible sheet and a rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet being capable of bending into a primarily convex shape, the rigid, thermally insulating end block shaped as a rectangular base with a planar surface and an opposing surface that is primarily convex in shape, the flexible sheet being placed adjacent to the opposing surface of the rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet thereby bending to obtain a shape that is primarily convex. The invention also relates to a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a process for the compression of the stack.

Abstract: Elementary electro-chemical cells and interconnectors composed firstly of a gas separation tube and secondly of a plurality of balls occupy the spaces between these gas separation tubes and elementary cells, are thus inserted alternately. The balls allow uniform distribution of gas on cell operational surfaces and increase the number of electrical contacts between the separation tubes and the elementary cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell and a fuel cell stack thereof includes separators, each of which includes a sandwiching section for sandwiching an electrolyte electrode assembly, a bridge and a reactant gas supply section, wherein the sandwiching section has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel, the bridge has a fuel gas supply channel for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas supply channel for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas channel, and a fuel gas supply passage for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas supply channel and an oxygen-containing gas supply passage for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas supply channel extend through the reactant gas supply section in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A proton conductor includes a water-soluble electrolyte membrane with proton conductivity and a proton-conductive ceramic that is provided on at least one surface of the water-soluble electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a hydrogen-permeable structure having excellent durability, in which adherence between a hydrogen-permeable base and a proton conductive film is excellent, peel-off at an interface thereof is suppressed, and stable performance can be kept for a long time, and to provide a method of manufacturing the hydrogen-permeable structure and a fuel cell having excellent durability, in which the hydrogen-permeable structure is used. The present invention relates to a hydrogen-permeable structure including a hydrogen-permeable base in which a fluctuation range of a d value by X-ray analysis measurement is at most 0.05% in a region within 2 ?m deep from a surface, and an oxide proton conductive film formed on a surface thereof, and also relates to a method of manufacturing the hydrogen-permeable structure and a fuel cell using the hydrogen-permeable structure.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for use in generating electricity while tolerating sulfur content in a fuel input stream. The solid oxide fuel cell includes an electrolyte, a cathode, and a sulfur tolerant anode. The cathode is disposed on a first side of the electrolyte. The sulfur tolerant anode is disposed on a second side of the electrolyte opposite the cathode. The sulfur tolerant anode includes a composition of nickel, copper, and ceria to exhibit a substantially stable operating voltage at a constant current density in the presence of the sulfur content within the fuel input stream. The solid oxide fuel cell is useful within a SOFC stack to generate electricity from reformate which includes synthesis gas (syngas) and sulfur content. The solid oxide fuel cell is also useful within a SOFC stack to generate electricity from unreformed hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte includes preheating a substrate on which an oxide electrolyte layer is to be deposited to a substrate temperature of about 1100° C. and above, impinging a surface of a source comprising the oxide with an electron beam in an evacuated chamber at a pressure of about 10?3 or less mm of Hg devoid of process gas, such as oxygen, to evaporate the oxide in the chamber, and placing the preheated substrate in the chamber where the oxide deposits on the preheated substrate. The oxide fuel cell electrolyte is deposited having a columnar oxide microstructure.

Abstract: An agglomerated powder is formed comprising a metal oxide agglomerated with at least one alkaline carbonate to be used as an electrolyte in fuel cells. The obtained agglomerates exhibit good flow properties which facilitates the handling of the powder and improved homogeneity and stability compared to a plain mixture of the ingredients. In a preferred embodiment the technology is directed to agglomerating fine and irregular particulate ceria powder with lithium and sodium or potassium carbonates to be used for compaction of thin plates used as electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells. A powder to be used as electrolyte in fuel cells, comprising a metal oxide and at least one alkali carbonate is provided. A bonding is formed between the metal oxide and the at least one alkali carbonate during mixing thereby providing an agglomerated powder and avoiding segregation.

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: A solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode electrode, a dense non-porous electrolyte and a porous cathode electrode. The anode electrode comprises a plurality of parallel plate members and the cathode electrode comprises a plurality of parallel plate members. The plate members of the cathode electrode inter-digitate with the plate members of the anode electrode. The electrolyte comprises at least one electrolyte member, which fills at least one space between the parallel plate members of the anode electrode and the parallel plate members of the cathode electrode. At least one non-ionically conducting member fills at least one space between the parallel plate members of the anode electrode and the parallel plate members of the cathode electrode and the at least one electrolyte member and the at least one non-ionically conducting member are arranged alternately.

Abstract: The polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprises a hygroscopic substrate and a proton conductive polymer disposed at the inside, one side, and/or both sides of the hygroscopic substrate.

Abstract: To provide an ionic electrolyte membrane structure that enables contact between the air pole and the fuel pole in which structure an edge face of the interface between an ion conducting layer and an ion non-conducting layer stands bare on a plane, an ionic electrolyte membrane structure which transmits ions only is made up of i) a substrate having a plurality of pores which have been made through the substrate in the thickness direction thereof and ii) a plurality of multi-layer membranes each comprising an ion conducting layer formed of an ion conductive material and an ion non-conducting layer formed of an ion non-conductive material which have alternately been formed in laminae a plurality of times on each inner wall surface of the pores of the substrate in such a way that the multi-layer membranes fill up the pores completely; the ions only being transmitted in the through direction by way of the multi-layer membranes provided on the inner wall surfaces of the pores.

Abstract: Where the underground electrical power supply in an airport apron area is not sufficiently powerful for temporarily parked aircraft, or even does not exist at all, a conventional diesel-powered electrodynamic generator is, inventively replaced by a mobile generator (1) having an electrochemical cell (3) as the source of the electrical power for a temporary external feed into the on-board power supply system. The cell (3) may be a rechargeable lithium battery; however, it is preferably a fuel cell (3) with all the additional devices for its autonomous operation is located in a self-propelled or towed trolley (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), an anode, and a SOFC, in which an anode is formed by stacking sheets having a plurality of holes, and the holes are used as gas diffusion paths through which fuel gas can be facilely diffused, and some of the holes are filled with a reinforcement member or a current collecting member, thereby improving a cell strength and increasing a current collecting performance and thus an efficiency of the SOFC.

Abstract: Through protrusion on channel area, a fuel flows higher to have a better reaction with a power generating plate of an SOFC. A material is selected for stacks to reduce the number of stacks and to simplify an assembling process of the stacks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder constituted by a set of grains, characterized in that the 10 percentile of the cumulative granulometric distribution of the grain sizes, commencing from the fines, D10, is 4 ?m or more, at least 40% by number of the grains having a form factor R between the length and the width of more than 1.5.

Abstract: An electrochemical system includes a reversible fuel cell system which generates electrical energy and reactant product from fuel and oxidizer in a fuel cell mode and which generates the fuel and oxidant from the reactant product and the electrical energy in an electrolysis mode. The system also includes a reactant product delivery device which is adapted to supply the reactant product to the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode, in addition to or instead of the reactant product generated by the reversible fuel cell system in the fuel cell mode, and a fuel removal device which is adapted to remove the fuel generated by the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode from the electrochemical system.

Abstract: A method of operating an atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell generator (6) in combination with a gas turbine comprising a compressor (1) and expander (2) where an inlet oxidant (20) is passed through the compressor (1) and exits as a first stream (60) and a second stream (62) the first stream passing through a flow control valve (56) to control flow and then through a heat exchanger (54) followed by mixing with the second stream (62) where the mixed streams are passed through a combustor (8) and expander (2) and the first heat exchanger for temperature control before entry into the solid oxide fuel cell generator (6), which generator (6) is also supplied with fuel (40).

Abstract: Disclosed is a unit cell of a honeycomb-type solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having a plurality of channels. The channels include cathode channels and anode channels. The cathode channels and anode channels are set up alternately in the unit cell. A collector is installed inside each of the cathode channels and the anode channels, and a packing material is packed into the channels having the collector. Disclosed also is a stack including the unit cells and methods for manufacturing the unit cell and the stack.

Abstract: A device for producing water on board an aircraft includes at least one high temperature fuel cell entirely or partially integrated into a combustion chamber arrangement of a gas turbine aircraft engine. The combination of at least one fuel cell and a gas turbine engine is adapted to operate exclusively with hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen, and is embodied in an aircraft propulsion engine and/or an auxiliary power unit used for producing compressed air for a cabin and a power supply of the aircraft. The at least one high temperature fuel cell is fed with pure hydrogen on an anode side and with air on a cathode side. The combustion chambers of the turbine engine are fed with an air-hydrogen mixture, whereby at least the hydrogen supply can be regulated or completely shut off.

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: An interconnect material is formed by combining a lanthanum-doped strontium titanate with an aliovalent transition metal to form a precursor composition and sintering the precursor composition to form the interconnect material. The aliovalent transition metal can be an electron-acceptor dopant, such as manganese, cobalt, nickel or iron, or the aliovalent transition metal can be an electron-donor dopant, such as niobium or tungsten. A solid oxide fuel cell, or a strontium titanate varistor, or a strontium titanate capacitor can include the interconnect material that includes a lanthanum-doped strontium titanate that is further doped with an aliovalent transition metal.

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: A method for making a solid oxide fuel cell component includes depositing a cathode material directly onto a metallic interconnect. The interconnect may comprise stainless steel or another suitable metal. The cathode material may comprise a ceramic. Examples of cathode materials are yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and mixtures of YSZ with other ceramics such as lanthanum strontium manganate. The cathode material may be deposited by plasma spraying. A pore former may be plasma sprayed together with the cathode material to provide a porous cathode. Electrolyte and anode materials may be deposited on the cathode material also by plasma spraying. Plasma conditions may be selected to provide a dense electrolyte layer.

Abstract: There is provided an SOFC cell and manufacturing method thereof whereby the occurrence of Cr poisoning of the air electrode can be satisfactorily suppressed in an SOFC cell formed by joining together an air electrode with a Cr-containing alloy or the like. A Cr(VI) oxide suppressing state is induced for suppressing the formation of Cr(VI) oxides in an alloy or oxide during a firing process in which an alloy or oxide and an air electrode are fired in a state of being joined together.

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.