Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.

Membrane modules for hydrogen separation and fuel processors and fuel cell systems including the same are disclosed herein. The membrane modules include a plurality of membrane packs. Each membrane pack includes a first hydrogen-selective membrane, a second hydrogen-selective membrane, and a fluid-permeable support structure positioned between the first hydrogen-selective membrane and the second hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane modules also include a permeate-side frame member and a mixed gas-side frame member, and a thickness of the permeate-side frame member may be less than a thickness of the mixed gas-side frame member. In some embodiments, the support structure includes a screen structure that includes two fine mesh screens. The two fine mesh screens may include a plain weave fine mesh screen and/or a Dutch weave fine mesh screen. The fine mesh screens may be selected to provide at most 100 micrometers of undulation in the hydrogen-selective membranes.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.

A method for the preparation of zirconia-multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite utilizing Pluronics as templating agents is described. An efficient method for producing hydrogen gas using the nanocomposite as a photocatalyst.

Reforming alcohol is disclosed. Alcohol is introduced into a conduit of an alcohol reformer so that the alcohol flows through a catalyst stage within the conduit. The catalyst stage includes an alcohol reforming catalyst, and a heat transfer member comprising thermally conductive material. The heat transfer member is in thermal contact with the conduit and the alcohol reforming catalyst. Simultaneously, exhaust gas is introduced from an internal combustion engine into an exhaust channel. The exhaust gas in the exhaust channel contacts fins extending outward from the conduit so that heat from the exhaust gas is transferred through the fins, the conduit, and the heat transfer member to the alcohol reforming catalyst.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal sulfide materials, including cathode materials. In some embodiments, the metal sulfide material comprises a secondary cluster of metal sulfide nanoparticles surrounded by a carbon layer. The carbon layer may be created by carbonizing one or more polymer layers disposed about the secondary cluster. The carbonized layer may aid in optimizing performance of the cathode material. Also disclosed herein are methods, processes, devices, and systems for removing hydrogen sulfide from a waste stream. In some embodiments, the waste stream containing hydrogen sulfide is a gas. The waste stream can be combined with a solvent containing a metal-catalyst complex, and the reaction of hydrogen sulfide with the metal results in production of a hydrogen gas and a solid comprising metal sulfide.

Apparatuses for gasifying glycerol using solar energy, system including the apparatuses, and methods of using the apparatuses are provided. The apparatuses may include a concentrated solar dish comprising an opening and a gasifying reactor comprising a chamber. An entrance of the chamber may be aligned to the opening. The apparatuses may also include a thermal insulator disposed on outer surfaces of the concentrated solar dish and the gasifying reactor and a pipe in the thermal insulator. The pipe may be configured to deliver glycerol into the chamber of the gasifying reactor in the form of atomized mist. The glycerol may be delivered to a portion of the chamber adjacent the opening.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.

An easily transportable micro-scale process is described for the direct production of liquid fuels from flare gas, biogas, stranded natural gas, natural gas emissions from methane hydrate dissociation, and other low-volume, gas-phase hydrocarbon resources. The process involves the design of an integrated series of tubular catalytic reactors in which each consecutive catalytic reactor in the series has been designed with larger volumes of catalyst so that a single pass efficiency of about 90% or greater is achieved while keeping the temperatures and pressures of each reactor similar and without requiring tailgas recycling to the reactors. Typically, the process employs a direct fuel production catalyst that produces undetectable, detrimental carboxylic acids in the fuel and catalyst reaction water. As a result, the directly produced, premium fuels are non-corrosive and do not degrade during long-term storage.

A eutectic supported catalyst system is used in catalyzed chemical reactions. A metal catalyst particle is supported in a eutectic medium. The system may have a) a eutectic composition of at least two metals forming the eutectic composition; and b) metal catalyst particles, preferably of nanometer dimensions, such as from 0.5 to 50 nm. The particles are dispersed throughout the eutectic composition when the eutectic composition is solid, and the particles are dispersed or suspended throughout the eutectic composition when the eutectic composition is in liquid form. At least one metal of the eutectic may comprises lead and a metal in the metal catalyst is a different metal then the metals in the eutectic. The eutectic may be in a liquid state and the metal catalyst particles may be in an equilibrium state within the eutectic.