An electrolyte of a solid oxide cell is required to be capable of suppressing both gas cross-leak and electron leak. In addition, it is important from the viewpoint of a reduction in material costs and in the electric resistance of the electrolyte that the electrolyte is made into a thin film and that no expensive noble metal is used. The present invention provides a thin-film-shaped proton conducting electrolyte capable of suppressing both gas cross-leak and electron leak, a solid oxide cell using the proton conducting electrolyte, and a manufacturing method for the proton conducting electrolyte and the solid oxide cell. A proton conducting electrolyte using an oxide material having proton conductivity is provided. The proton conducting electrolyte includes a first portion containing Me (Me=at least any one of Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu), and a second portion different in Me content from the first portion.

The invention concerns a method for manufacturing of an electrocatalyst comprising a porous carbon support material, a catalytic material in the form of at least one type of metal, and macrocyclic compounds chemically bound to the carbon support and capable of forming complexes with single metal ions of said metal or metals, said method comprising the steps of: i) providing a template capable of acting as pore structure directing agent during formation of a highly porous electrically conducting templated carbon substrate, ii) mixing the template with one or several precursor substances of the catalytic material, the macrocyclic compounds and carbon, iii) exposing the mixture of the template and the precursor substances to a carbonization process during which the precursors react and transform the mixture into a carbonized template composite in winch the carbon part of the composite is chemically bound to macrocyclic compounds present in complexes with the metal or metals. The invention also concerns an electrocatalyst for electrochemical reactions, a method for manufacturing of a membrane electrode assembly using such an electrocatalyst and to a fuel cell making use of such an electrocatalyst.

The invention concerns a method for manufacturing of an electrocatalyst comprising a porous carbon support material, a catalytic material in the form of at least one type of metal, and macrocyclic compounds chemically bound to the carbon support and capable of forming complexes with single metal ions of said metal or metals, said method comprising the steps of: i) providing a template capable of acting as pore structure directing agent during formation of a highly porous electrically conducting templated carbon substrate, ii) mixing the template with one or several precursor substances of the catalytic material, the macrocyclic compounds and carbon, iii) exposing the mixture of the template and the precursor substances to a carbonization process during which the precursors react and transform the mixture into a carbonized template composite in winch the carbon part of the composite is chemically bound to macrocyclic compounds present in complexes with the metal or metals. The invention also concerns an electrocatalyst for electrochemical reactions, a method for manufacturing of a membrane electrode assembly using such an electrocatalyst and to a fuel cell making use of such an electrocatalyst.

A method for operating a fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack includes detecting a failure of a first cooling fan that blows exterior air to a first radiator, opening a first valve such that first cooling water that passes via the fuel cell stack flows toward the fuel cell stack, controlling an RPM of a blower of an air conditioning system to a maximum level, controlling an opening degree of a second valve according to a cooling degree of the first radiator and a cooling degree of the air conditioning system, and controlling an RPM of a first pump that pumps the first cooling water to a maximum level.

A hybrid power system for an unmanned aerial system (UAS) having a liquid fuel engine and a solid oxide fuel cell coupled to the exhaust of the engine for generating electricity that is used by the electric motors of the UAS to create lift and control flight. A conventional remote control (r/c) liquid fuel engine may be used generate exhaust gases including hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are used by a SOFC coupled to the exhaust of the r/c engine to generate electricity. The electric motors of the UAS may thus be powered by the electricity generated by the SOFC.

The purpose of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a nonaqueous alkali metal power storage element with which diffusion resistance of ions is reduced, while increase of electron transfer resistance at high temperature is suppressed. This nonaqueous alkali metal power storage element contains, in a positive electrode active material layer and a negative electrode active material layer, single-walled carbon nanotubes having a bundle structure that has an average fiber diameter of 5-20 nm. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a positive electrode coating liquid that leads to provision of a nonaqueous alkali metal power storage element having high energy density and high output performance. The positive electrode coating liquid contains single-walled carbon nanotubes and has a specific viscosity.

A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes the steps of providing a first SOFC layer laminate tape comprising a first SOFC layer composition attached to a flexible carrier film layer, providing a second SOFC laminate tape comprising a second SOFC layer composition attached to a flexible carrier film layer, and providing a third SOFC layer laminate tape comprising a third SOFC layer composition attached to a flexible carrier film layer. The first SOFC layer laminate tape, the second SOFC layer laminate tape, and the third SOFC layer laminate tape are assembled on rolls positioned along a roll-to-roll assembly line. The laminate tapes are sequentially laminated and calendered and the flexible carrier films removed to provide a composite SOFC precursor laminate that can be sintered and combined with a cathode to provide a completed SOFC. An assembly for making composite SOFC precursor laminates is also disclosed.

In an embodiment, a fuel cell includes: a flexible substrate including a first fuel-tolerant material; a fitting on the flexible substrate, the fitting including first openings extending through an outer portion of the fitting; a primer coating on the outer portion of the fitting, the primer coating including a second fuel-tolerant material; first yarns strung through the first openings of the fitting, the first yarns stitched into the flexible substrate; and an encapsulant encapsulating the first yarns, the primer coating, and the outer portion of the fitting, the encapsulant disposed on the flexible substrate, the encapsulant including a third fuel-tolerant material, the third fuel-tolerant material chemically bonded to the second fuel-tolerant material and the first fuel-tolerant material.

The present invention provides a fuel cell cap that includes a flanged edge region in which a gasket is positioned, and which is adapted to be sealingly fit over the edge of fuel cell and successive heat energy transmitting sections that concentrate the heat energy for ultimate emission. A dome-shaped first region is integral with and positioned radially inward from the flanged edge region followed by a first stack region of cylindrical cross-sectional shape that is integral with and extending upwardly from the dome-shaped first region. Next, a second stack region of cylindrical cross-section shape extends upwardly from the first stack region and is of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. Finally, an inwardly tapering region extends upwardly from the second stack region and emits the heat energy from the cap.

Provided are assemblies, comprising: a first leaf spring; a second leaf spring; and at least one component; the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring being superposed over a first end of the at least one component so as to exert first and second forces, respectively, through first and second regions of the component. These assemblies are useful to apply different forces to a stacked assembly where a cross section of a component of the assembly comprises materials of different Young's moduli within that cross section, thereby compressing different regions of the component with different forces.