An individual solid oxide cell (SOC) constructed of a sandwich configuration including in the following order: an oxygen electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, a fuel electrode, a fuel manifold, and at least one layer of mesh. In one embodiment, the mesh supports a reforming catalyst resulting in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having a reformer embedded therein. The reformer-modified SOFC functions internally to steam reform or partially oxidize a gaseous hydrocarbon, e.g. methane, to a gaseous reformate of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is converted in the SOC to water, carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof, and an electrical current. In another embodiment, an electrical insulator is disposed between the fuel manifold and the mesh resulting in a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC), which functions to electrolyze water and/or carbon dioxide.

An individual solid oxide cell (SOC) constructed of a sandwich configuration including in the following order: an oxygen electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, a fuel electrode, a fuel manifold, and at least one layer of mesh. In one embodiment, the mesh supports a reforming catalyst resulting in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having a reformer embedded therein. The reformer-modified SOFC functions internally to steam reform or partially oxidize a gaseous hydrocarbon, e.g. methane, to a gaseous reformate of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is converted in the SOC to water, carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof, and an electrical current. In another embodiment, an electrical insulator is disposed between the fuel manifold and the mesh resulting in a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC), which functions to electrolyze water and/or carbon dioxide.

The electrode catalyst ink for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst including a layered double hydroxide, an organic polymer, and a solvent. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a1 between the solvent and the catalyst is 15.0 MPa.sup.½ or more and less than 20.5 MPa.sup.½. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a2 between the solvent and the organic polymer is 10.0 MPa.sup.½ or more and 14.0 MPa.sup.½ or less.

The electrode catalyst ink includes a catalyst including a layered double hydroxide, an organic polymer, and a solvent. The solvent includes a first solvent, a second solvent, and a third solvent. The third solvent has a boiling point higher than a boiling point of the first solvent and higher than a boiling point of the second solvent. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a1 [MPa.sup.1/2] between the third solvent and the catalyst and the Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a2 [MPa.sup.1/2] between the third solvent and the organic polymer satisfy a relationship of 2.08R.sub.a1−16.0≤R.sub.a2≤2.08R.sub.a1−13.5.

Metallurgical assemblies and systems according to the present technology may include a refractory vessel including sides and a base. The base may define a plurality of apertures centrally located within the base. The sides and the base may at least partially define an interior volume of the refractory vessel. The assemblies may include a lid removably coupled with the refractory vessel and configured to form a seal with the refractory vessel. The lid may define a plurality of apertures through the lid. The assemblies may also include a current collector proximate the base of the refractory vessel. The current collector may include conductive extensions positioned within the plurality of apertures centrally located within the base.

The invention pertains to a method for efficiently spitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using a nanocomposite that includes ((BiVO.sub.4).sub.x—(TiO.sub.2).sub.1-x, wherein x ranges from 0.08 to 0.12, and optionally silver nanoparticles; methods for making a nanocomposite used in this method by a simple solvothermal method; and to photoanodes and photoelectrochemical cells and devices containing the nanocomposites.

The invention pertains to a method for efficiently spitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using a nanocomposite that includes ((BiVO.sub.4).sub.x—(TiO.sub.2).sub.1-x, wherein x ranges from 0.08 to 0.12, and optionally silver nanoparticles; methods for making a nanocomposite used in this method by a simple solvothermal method; and to photoanodes and photoelectrochemical cells and devices containing the nanocomposites.

A hydrogen electrolyzer cell includes a shared reservoir, anode and cathode chambers, and a dividing wall. The shared reservoir holds an electrolytic solution. The anode chamber extends up from the shared reservoir and includes an anode electrode for producing oxygen gas during an electrolysis of the electrolytic solution. An oxygen degassing region is integrated into the anode chamber above the anode electrode. The cathode chamber extends up from the shared reservoir and includes a cathode electrode for producing hydrogen gas during the electrolysis. A hydrogen degassing region is integrated into the cathode chamber above the cathode electrode. The dividing wall extends up from the shared reservoir and separates the anode chamber from the cathode chamber. The dividing wall blocks transport of charged ions within the electrolytic solution across the dividing wall and blocks mixing of the hydrogen and oxygen gases released during the electrolysis.

A hydrogen electrolyzer cell includes a shared reservoir, anode and cathode chambers, and a dividing wall. The shared reservoir holds an electrolytic solution. The anode chamber extends up from the shared reservoir and includes an anode electrode for producing oxygen gas during an electrolysis of the electrolytic solution. An oxygen degassing region is integrated into the anode chamber above the anode electrode. The cathode chamber extends up from the shared reservoir and includes a cathode electrode for producing hydrogen gas during the electrolysis. A hydrogen degassing region is integrated into the cathode chamber above the cathode electrode. The dividing wall extends up from the shared reservoir and separates the anode chamber from the cathode chamber. The dividing wall blocks transport of charged ions within the electrolytic solution across the dividing wall and blocks mixing of the hydrogen and oxygen gases released during the electrolysis.

Self-cleaning electrochemical cells, systems including self-cleaning electrochemical cells, and methods of operating self-cleaning electrochemical cells are disclosed. The self-cleaning electrochemical cell can include a plurality of concentric electrodes disposed in a housing, a fluid channel defined between the concentric electrodes, and an electrical connector positioned at a distal end of a concentric electrode and electrically connected to the electrode. The electrical connectors may be configured to provide a substantially even current distribution to the concentric electrode and minimize a zone of reduced velocity occurring downstream from the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be configured to cause a temperature of an electrolyte solution to increase by less than about 0.5° C. while transmitting at least 100 W of power.