An anode separator for use in an electrochemical hydrogen pump includes a first anode gas flow channel having a serpentine shape, a second anode gas flow channel having a serpentine shape, and an anode gas discharge manifold into which an anode gas discharged from each of the first anode gas flow channel and the second anode gas flow channel flow. The first anode gas flow channel and the second anode gas flow channel are provided in a first region and a second region, respectively, that are divided from each other by a predetermined line parallel to a direction of the anode gas that flows into the anode gas discharge manifold.

A compression apparatus includes at least one compression unit, a voltage applier, an anode end plate provided on an anode separator located at a first end in a direction of stacking, a cathode end plate provided on a cathode separator located at a second end in the direction of stacking, and first and second plates provided between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator located at the second end. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from an anode fluid that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The first plate has formed therein a first space in which to store a cathode gas containing the compressed hydrogen. The second plate is provided with a first manifold through which the cathode gas flows and a first communicating path through which to lead, to the first space, the cathode gas having flowed in from the first manifold.

A compression apparatus includes at least one compression unit, a voltage applier, an anode end plate provided on an anode separator located at a first end in a direction of stacking, a cathode end plate provided on a cathode separator located at a second end in the direction of stacking, and first and second plates provided between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator located at the second end. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from an anode fluid that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The first plate has formed therein a first space in which to store a cathode gas containing the compressed hydrogen. The second plate is provided with a first manifold through which the cathode gas flows and a first communicating path through which to lead, to the first space, the cathode gas having flowed in from the first manifold.

A water electrolyzer comprises a membrane, a cathode and an anode. The membrane comprises a first membrane layer comprising a first ion-conductive polymer, a second membrane layer comprising a second ion-conductive polymer, and a platinized nanostructured layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The platinized nanostructured layer comprises close-packed whiskers having at least one of platinum or platinum oxide disposed thereon. The cathode is disposed on the membrane and comprises a first catalyst consisting essentially of both metallic Pt and Pt oxide. The anode is disposed on the opposite surface of the membrane and comprises a second catalyst comprising at least 95 percent by weight of collectively metallic Ir and Ir oxide, calculated as elemental Ir, based on the total weight of the second catalyst, wherein at least one of metallic Ir or Ir oxide is present. Membranes and methods of making them are also disclosed.

A water electrolyzer comprises a membrane, a cathode and an anode. The membrane comprises a first membrane layer comprising a first ion-conductive polymer, a second membrane layer comprising a second ion-conductive polymer, and a platinized nanostructured layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The platinized nanostructured layer comprises close-packed whiskers having at least one of platinum or platinum oxide disposed thereon. The cathode is disposed on the membrane and comprises a first catalyst consisting essentially of both metallic Pt and Pt oxide. The anode is disposed on the opposite surface of the membrane and comprises a second catalyst comprising at least 95 percent by weight of collectively metallic Ir and Ir oxide, calculated as elemental Ir, based on the total weight of the second catalyst, wherein at least one of metallic Ir or Ir oxide is present. Membranes and methods of making them are also disclosed.

Conventional optical lithography uses masks with static patterns that are expensive and labor intensive to produce. The present disclosure is directed to a programmable optical lithography mask with an array of cells that use a hydrogen-mediated mechanism to tune their optical properties (e.g., transmission, absorption, refractive index, and/or reflectivity) dynamically and reversibly. Each cell in the programmable mask may be individually addressable to produce a large variety of patterns. The programmable mask may be configured for ultra-fine spatial resolution or coarse spatial resolution, facilitating a wide range of applications. The programmable mask may be stable against short wavelength light, such as broadband ultraviolet (UV) light, and can thus act as a light valve for short wavelength light.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

Herein discussed is an electrochemical reactor comprising a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase, wherein the reactor is capable of reforming a hydrocarbon electrochemically, wherein the electrochemical reforming reactions involve the exchange of an ion through the membrane to oxidize the hydrocarbon. Further discussed herein is a method of producing hydrogen comprising providing an electrochemical (EC) reactor having a mixed-conducting membrane, introducing a first stream comprising a hydrocarbon to the reactor, introducing a second stream comprising water to the reactor, and reducing the water in the second stream to produce hydrogen, wherein the first stream and the second stream do not come in contact with each other in the reactor, and wherein the hydrocarbon is reformed electrochemically in the EC reactor.

Herein discussed is an electrochemical reactor comprising a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase, wherein the reactor is capable of reforming a hydrocarbon electrochemically, wherein the electrochemical reforming reactions involve the exchange of an ion through the membrane to oxidize the hydrocarbon. Further discussed herein is a method of producing hydrogen comprising providing an electrochemical (EC) reactor having a mixed-conducting membrane, introducing a first stream comprising a hydrocarbon to the reactor, introducing a second stream comprising water to the reactor, and reducing the water in the second stream to produce hydrogen, wherein the first stream and the second stream do not come in contact with each other in the reactor, and wherein the hydrocarbon is reformed electrochemically in the EC reactor.