A CoVO.sub.x composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 0.5-5 μm thick layer of CoVO.sub.x having pores with average diameters of 2-200 nm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a cobalt complex, and a vanadium complex. The CoVO.sub.x composite electrode is capable of being used in an electrochemical cell for water oxidation.

A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg.sup.2+ and Ca.sup.2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg.sup.2+ and Ca.sup.2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

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.

A CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 2-12 μm thick layer of CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite particles having average diameters of 0.2-2.2 μm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a calcium complex, and a titanium complex. The CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite electrode is capable of being used in a photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting.

A catalyst includes a layered double hydroxide and a metal particle. The layered double hydroxide includes ions of at least two transition metals. The metal particle includes at least one transition metal. The metal particle has a surface coated with the layered double hydroxide.

A method of preparing bismuth vanadate particles is described. The bismuth vanadate particles prepared via ultrasonication and hydrothermal treatment exhibit controlled morphology (e.g., octahedral shape) and crystallinity (e.g., tetragonal crystal symmetry). A photoelectrode containing bismuth vanadate particles and a method of using the photoelectrode in a photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting is also provided.

A method of preparing bismuth vanadate particles is described. The bismuth vanadate particles prepared via ultrasonication and hydrothermal treatment exhibit controlled morphology (e.g., octahedral shape) and crystallinity (e.g., tetragonal crystal symmetry). A photoelectrode containing bismuth vanadate particles and a method of using the photoelectrode in a photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to a carbon dioxide capture device comprising a first reactor and a second reactor both of which show a (photo)anode containing or connected to oxygen evolution and/or carbon dioxide evolution catalyst(s) and a (photo)cathode containing or connected to an oxygen reduction catalyst, wherein the first reactor comprises an anion exchange membrane placed between the porous (photo)anode and porous (photo)cathode, and the second reactor comprises a proton exchange membrane placed between the porous (photo)anode and porous (photo)cathode. On the porous (photo)cathode side of the first reactor there is a fluid inlet able to carry carbon dioxide, air and water, and on the side of the porous (photo)cathode of the second reactor there is a fluid outlet able to carry carbon dioxide and water.

The present invention relates to an electrode comprising an electrically conductive substrate of which at least one portion of the surface is covered with a metal deposit of copper, the surface of said deposit being in an oxidised, sulphurised, selenised and/or tellurised form and the deposit having a specific surface area of more than 1 m.sup.2/g; a method for preparing such an electrode; and a method for oxygenising water with dioxygen involving such an electrode.