An electrolysis apparatus for the electrolytic production of oxygen from oxide-containing starting material includes at least one cathode which at least partly delimits a receiving region which in at least one operation state is configured for receiving the oxide-containing starting material and at least one anode, wherein the electrolysis apparatus has at least one selective oxygen pump which is at least partly realized integrally with the anode.

A process for methanation comprising a first region for flowing a stream over a solid oxide electrolysis cell. In this first region the stream consists of CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, and H.sub.2O, the stream is converted into a first conversion stream, and the solid oxide electrolysis cell is enhanced with a methanation catalyst. The process also has a removal region connected to the first region wherein the removal region is able to flow the first conversion stream away from the solid oxide electrolysis cell.

A method for extracting metal and oxygen from powdered metal oxides in electrolytic cell is proposed, the electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode, an anode and an oxygen-ion-conducting membrane, the method comprising providing a solid oxygen ion conducting electrolyte powder into a container, providing a feedstock comprising at least one metal oxide in powdered form into the container, applying an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, the cathode being in communication with the electrolyte powder and the anode being in communication with the membrane in communication with the electrolyte powder, such that at least one respective metallic species of the at least one metal oxide is reduced at the cathode and oxygen is oxidized at the anode to form molecular oxygen, wherein the potential across the cathode and the anode is greater than the dissociation potential of the at least one metal oxide and less than the dissociation potential of the solid electrolyte powder and the membrane.

A system for extracting oxygen from powdered metal oxides, the system comprising a container comprising an electrolyte in the form of meltable or molten salt, at least one cathode, at least one anode, a power supply, and a conducting structure, wherein the cathode is shaped as a receptacle having a porous shell, which has an upper opening, the cathode being arranged in the electrolyte with the opening protruding over the electrolyte, wherein the conducting structure comprises a plurality of conducting elements and gaps between the conducting elements, wherein the power supply is connectable to the at least one cathode and the at least one anode to selectively apply an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, wherein the conducting structure is insertable into the cathode, such that the conducting elements reach into an inner space of the cathode, wherein the conducting structure is electrically connectable to the cathode, and wherein the system is adapted for reducing at least one respective metallic species of at least one metal oxide of feedstock inside the shell of the cathode with inserted conducting structure by applying the electric potential, wherein the potential is greater than the dissociation potential of the at least one metal oxide.

A system for extracting oxygen from powdered metal oxides, the system comprising a container comprising an electrolyte in the form of meltable or molten salt, at least one cathode, at least one anode, a power supply, and a conducting structure, wherein the cathode is shaped as a receptacle having a porous shell, which has an upper opening, the cathode being arranged in the electrolyte with the opening protruding over the electrolyte, wherein the conducting structure comprises a plurality of conducting elements and gaps between the conducting elements, wherein the power supply is connectable to the at least one cathode and the at least one anode to selectively apply an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, wherein the conducting structure is insertable into the cathode, such that the conducting elements reach into an inner space of the cathode, wherein the conducting structure is electrically connectable to the cathode, and wherein the system is adapted for reducing at least one respective metallic species of at least one metal oxide of feedstock inside the shell of the cathode with inserted conducting structure by applying the electric potential, wherein the potential is greater than the dissociation potential of the at least one metal oxide.

In one embodiment, a system includes a purification stage configured to purify an input gas stream prior to delivering the input gas stream to a reaction stage; and a collection stage configured to collect at least some ammonia from the reaction stage. The reaction stage is configured to reduce nitrogen into nitride; and convert at least some of the nitride into ammonia. In another embodiment, a separation membrane includes: an anode; a cathode electrically coupled to the anode; and a porous support material positioned between the anode and the cathode. The separation membrane is configured to reduce nitrogen into nitride; and facilitate hydrogenation of the nitride to form ammonia. In another embodiment, a method includes delivering an input gas stream comprising nitrogen to a separation membrane; reducing at least some of the nitrogen into nitride; and reacting at least some of the nitride with hydrogen-containing compound(s).

In one embodiment, a system includes a purification stage configured to purify an input gas stream prior to delivering the input gas stream to a reaction stage; and a collection stage configured to collect at least some ammonia from the reaction stage. The reaction stage is configured to reduce nitrogen into nitride; and convert at least some of the nitride into ammonia. In another embodiment, a separation membrane includes: an anode; a cathode electrically coupled to the anode; and a porous support material positioned between the anode and the cathode. The separation membrane is configured to reduce nitrogen into nitride; and facilitate hydrogenation of the nitride to form ammonia. In another embodiment, a method includes delivering an input gas stream comprising nitrogen to a separation membrane; reducing at least some of the nitrogen into nitride; and reacting at least some of the nitride with hydrogen-containing compound(s).

A method of forming an interlayer of a solid oxide cell unit on the surface of a substrate may include: providing a base interlayer solution comprising a solution of a soluble salt precursor of a metal oxide (crystalline) ceramic and crystalline nanoparticles, depositing the base interlayer solution onto the surface of the substrate, drying the base interlayer solution to define a nanocomposite sub-layer of the soluble salt precursor and nanoparticles, heating the sub-layer to decompose it and form a film of metal oxide comprising nanoparticles on the surface, and firing the substrate with the film on the metal surface, to form a nanocomposite crystalline layer.

In a method for supplying oxygen-enriched gas to an oxygen consuming process, in which the oxygen-enriched gas with a low nitrogen content is generated by supplying an anode-side feed gas comprising CO.sub.2 to the anode side of a solid oxide electrolysis cell, oxygen is generated on the anode side of the solid oxide electrolysis cell. This way, an anode-side product gas is formed, in which the oxygen-enriched gas comprises at least a part. The oxygen-enriched gas has a low nitrogen content, and the temperature of the oxygen-enriched gas exiting the solid oxide electrolysis cell is between 600 and 1000° C. The method has multiple advantages, first of all as regards energy saving.

In a method for supplying oxygen-enriched gas to an oxygen consuming process, in which the oxygen-enriched gas with a low nitrogen content is generated by supplying an anode-side feed gas comprising CO.sub.2 to the anode side of a solid oxide electrolysis cell, oxygen is generated on the anode side of the solid oxide electrolysis cell. This way, an anode-side product gas is formed, in which the oxygen-enriched gas comprises at least a part. The oxygen-enriched gas has a low nitrogen content, and the temperature of the oxygen-enriched gas exiting the solid oxide electrolysis cell is between 600 and 1000° C. The method has multiple advantages, first of all as regards energy saving.