The invention is directed to a barrier layer for corrosion protection in electrochemical devices, e.g. carbon based gas diffusion layers (GDLs) in electrochemical devices, comprising electrically conductive ceramic material and a non-ionomeric polymer binder. The electrically conductive ceramic material has an electrical conductivity of >0.1 S/cm, preferably >1 S/cm in air atmosphere (as detected by the powder method) and is selected from the group of precious metal and/or base metal containing oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides and mixtures and combinations thereof. Membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs), catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and gas diffusion layers (GDLs) comprising the barrier layer of the invention show improved corrosion resistance, preferably against carbon corrosion; particularly in start-up/shut-down cycles and fuel starvation situations of PEM fuel cells.

The invention is directed to a barrier layer for corrosion protection in electrochemical devices, e.g. carbon based gas diffusion layers (GDLs) in electrochemical devices, comprising electrically conductive ceramic material and a non-ionomeric polymer binder. The electrically conductive ceramic material has an electrical conductivity of >0.1 S/cm, preferably >1 S/cm in air atmosphere (as detected by the powder method) and is selected from the group of precious metal and/or base metal containing oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides and mixtures and combinations thereof. Membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs), catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and gas diffusion layers (GDLs) comprising the barrier layer of the invention show improved corrosion resistance, preferably against carbon corrosion; particularly in start-up/shut-down cycles and fuel starvation situations of PEM fuel cells.

The present invention relates to the use of a composition of formula (I): Fe.sub.9-a-b-cNi.sub.aCo.sub.bM.sub.cS.sub.8-dSe.sub.d, wherein M stands for one or more elements having in the ionic state an effective ionic radius in the range of 70-92 pm, a is a number within the range of 2.5≤a≤3.5, more preferably 2.7≤a≤3.3, b is a number within the range of 1.5≤b≤5.0, more preferably 1.5≤b≤4.0, most preferably 2.5≤b≤3.5, c is a number within the range of 0.0≤c≤2.0, more preferably 0.0≤c≤1.0, d is a number within the range of 0.0≤d≤4.0, more preferably 0.0≤d≤1.0, wherein the sum of a, b and c is in the range of 5≤a+b+c≤8 and wherein ≥90 wt. % of the composition is in the pentlandite phase for electrocatalytic splitting of water, preferably for hydrogen evolution reaction.

A system to generate gases from a liquid or a solid source including a generator, a dual arbitrary generator, a turbine, a thermoelectric generator, a pulse-width modulation device, a suction pump, a radiolytic cell, and magnets. The radiolytic cell includes a body, a first disk, a second disk having a plurality of perforations, and a plurality of radiotrodes. Each radiotrodes includes a large diameter tube, a small diameter tube concentric with the large diameter tube, and metallic wires having an end fixed into an upper section of the large and small diameter tubes and to lower sections of the large and small diameter tubes. The second ends of each one of the metallic wires are connected into the perforations of the corresponding first disk or second disk. The radiotrodes hang up inside the electrolytic cells by the metallic wires producing movement or vibration of the radiotrodes inside the radiolytic cell.

A method of manufacturing an electrode by disposing a three-dimensional substrate in a metal nitrate solution, drying, and thermally phosphatizing with a phosphorus source under inert gas to form a metal based phosphate catalyst on the substrate. An electrocatalyst and electrode produced via the method are also provided.

The present invention relates to a method for improving the catalytic activity of an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst comprising a substrate with a catalytic metallic composite coating. The method comprises exposing the metallic composite coating to a reducing agent to thereby increase oxygen vacancy density in the metallic composite coating.

The present invention relates to a method for improving the catalytic activity of an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst comprising a substrate with a catalytic metallic composite coating. The method comprises exposing the metallic composite coating to a reducing agent to thereby increase oxygen vacancy density in the metallic composite coating.

Photoelectrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran.

Photoelectrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran.

A membrane-free electrochemical reactor and fuel-cell having a collection chamber between a first and second chamber, a mesoporous carbon paper cathode between the first chamber and the collection chamber, a mesoporous carbon paper anode between the second chamber and the collection chamber, the cathode is coated with an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst that imparts a two-electron partial reduction reaction to hydrogen peroxide, the anode is coated with an oxygen evolution reaction coating or a hydrogen oxidation reaction coating, oxygen/air input and output ports connected to the first chamber, KOH/water input and output ports connected to the second chamber that are in an open state under an electrolyzer mode, H.sub.2/water input and output ports connected to the second chamber that are in an open state under a fuel-cell mode, a second KOH/water input port connected to the collection chamber, and a hydrogen peroxide/KOH/water output port connected to the collection chamber.