A catalyst laminate includes a plurality of catalyst layers containing at least one of a noble metal and an oxide of the noble metal and at least one of a non-noble metal and an oxide of the non-noble metal, including: two or more first catalyst layers and two or more second catalyst layers. In an atomic percent of the noble metal obtained by using a line analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in a thickness direction of the catalyst laminate. The first catalyst layer is less than an average of a highest value and a lowest value of the atomic percent of the noble metal. The second catalyst layer has an atomic percent of the noble metal equal to or greater than the average of the highest value and the lowest value thereof. The second catalyst layer is present between the first catalyst layers.

There is disclosed a process for synthesis of a C2-8 alkane comprising: (a) providing an electrolyte formulation comprising from about 3N to about 6N C2-C5 carboxylic acid and from about 2 M to about 4 M alkali C2-C5 carboxylate, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylate and carboxylic acid have the same carbon alkyl length into a pressure vessel having an electrode cell or stack; (b) adding electrical current to the electrode cell or stack; (c) pressurizing the pressure vessel; and (d) recovering a gas stream from the pressure vessel comprising a C2-8 alkane, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2. Preferably, the carboxylic acid is acetic acid and the alkane is ethane.

There is disclosed a process for synthesis of a C2-8 alkane comprising: (a) providing an electrolyte formulation comprising from about 3N to about 6N C2-C5 carboxylic acid and from about 2 M to about 4 M alkali C2-C5 carboxylate, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylate and carboxylic acid have the same carbon alkyl length into a pressure vessel having an electrode cell or stack; (b) adding electrical current to the electrode cell or stack; (c) pressurizing the pressure vessel; and (d) recovering a gas stream from the pressure vessel comprising a C2-8 alkane, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2. Preferably, the carboxylic acid is acetic acid and the alkane is ethane.

The present invention relates to a composite material comprising a porous solid matrix having interconnected channels, said matrix comprising sulfonate groups on at least a part of the surface of said channels, wherein a sulfonate group is in ionic interaction with a quaternary ammonium of a polymerizable molecule. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing such a composite material and applications thereof.

An assembly includes a solid-oxide stack of the SOEC/SOFC type and a system for clamping the solid-oxide stack. This assembly also comprises one system for the coupling, gastight at high temperature, including a coupling flange to enable a gas inlet and/or outlet tube to pass, at least one clamping screw, provided with a clamping head, and a seal, positioned between said at least one of the top and bottom clamping plates and against the coupling flange.

An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.

An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.

The present invention relates to an SOEC system (1), comprising a fuel cell stack (2) having a gas side (3) and an air side (4), and an ejector (5) for supplying a process fluid to a gas inlet (6) on the gas side (3), wherein the ejector (5) comprises a primary inlet (7), for introducing a water-containing primary process fluid through a primary line (8) of the SOEC system (1) into a primary portion (9) of the ejector (5), and a secondary inlet (10), for introducing recirculated secondary process fluid through a recirculation line (11) of the SOEC system (1) from a gas outlet (12) on the gas side (3) into a secondary portion (13) of the ejector (5), wherein the SOEC system (1) further comprises a control gas supply portion (14) for supplying control gas into the primary portion (9) and into the secondary portion (13) in order to control a pressure and/or mass flow in the primary portion (9) and in the secondary portion (13), and wherein the control gas supply portion (14) comprises a valve arrangement (19, 20) for controlling the pressure and/or the mass flow in the primary portion (9) and in the secondary portion (13).

The invention further relates to a method for operating an SOEC system (1) according to the invention.

A method of producing a gas mixture, said method comprising the steps of: a) subjecting water to electrolysis to obtain a hydrogen gas stream and an oxygen gas stream; b) reacting the hydrogen gas stream with solid carbon to obtain a stream comprising hydrocarbon gas, such as methane gas; and c) mixing the oxygen gas stream with the stream comprising hydrocarbon gas.

A catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) for use in a water electrolyser, having a laminate structure comprising: a first layer comprising a first membrane component having a cathode catalyst layer disposed on a first face thereof; a second layer comprising a second membrane component having an anode catalyst layer disposed on a first face thereof; and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and second layers, comprising a third membrane component having a recombination catalyst layer disposed on a first face thereof is disclosed. The CCM is useful within a water electrolyser. The recombination catalyst layer reduces the risk associated with hydrogen crossover and allows thinner membranes with lower resistance to be used.