An energy recovery converter for exhaust gases or waste heat is provided. The converter includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), an exhaust gas having a first molecular oxygen content, and an external electrical load. The MEA includes a first electrode, a second electrode and an oxygen ion conductive membrane sandwiched between the first and second electrodes. Each of the first and second electrodes includes at least one oxidation catalyst configured to promote an electrochemical reaction. The second electrode of the MEA is exposed to the exhaust gas and the first electrode of the MEA is exposed to a gas having a second molecular oxygen content. The second molecular oxygen content is higher than the first molecular oxygen content. The external electrical load is connected between the first and second electrodes of the MEA.

A method for preparing a flexible membrane-free and wire-shaped fuel cell is provided. A carbon nanotube sheet is twisted and loaded with a catalyst to obtain a (CNT)@Fe.sub.3[Co(CN).sub.6].sub.2 cathode electrode; the carbon nanotube sheet is twisted and coated with a nickel powder to obtain a CNT@nickel particle anode electrode; and the (CNT)@Fe.sub.3[Co(CN).sub.6].sub.2 cathode electrode, the CNT@nickel particle anode electrode, and a fuel electrolyte of H.sub.2O.sub.2 are integrated in a silicone tube to obtain a flexible membrane-free and wire-shaped fuel cell. The flexible membrane-free and wire-shaped fuel cell of the present invention can generate an open-circuit voltage of 0.88 V, while having very good flexibility, and can be woven into textiles such as clothes, thereby having great application prospects in the field of portable energy supply.

A method for preparing a flexible membrane-free and wire-shaped fuel cell is provided. A carbon nanotube sheet is twisted and loaded with a catalyst to obtain a (CNT)@Fe.sub.3[Co(CN).sub.6].sub.2 cathode electrode; the carbon nanotube sheet is twisted and coated with a nickel powder to obtain a CNT@nickel particle anode electrode; and the (CNT)@Fe[Co(CN).sub.6].sub.2 cathode electrode, the CNT@nickel particle anode electrode, and a fuel electrolyte of H.sub.2O.sub.2 are integrated in a silicone tube to obtain a flexible membrane-free and wire-shaped fuel cell. The flexible membrane-free and wire-shaped fuel cell of the present invention can generate an open-circuit voltage of 0.88 V, while having very good flexibility, and can be woven into textiles such as clothes, thereby having great application prospects in the field of portable energy supply.

An electrochemical gas conversion device is provided, that includes a flexible membrane formed in a sack-shape, where the membrane includes a gas permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane, where at least a portion of the flexible membrane is surrounded by a liquid electrolyte held by a housing, where the flexible membrane includes a gas interior, an electrically conductive catalyst coating on an exterior surface of the flexible membrane, where the flexible membrane and the electrically conductive catalyst coating are configured as a anode or a cathode, and an inlet/outlet tube configured to flow the gas to the interior, from the interior, or to and from the interior of the flexible membrane.

A benthic microbial fuel cell comprising: a nonconductive frame having an upper end and a lower end; a plurality of anodes, wherein each anode is a conductive plate having a top section and a bottom edge; a plurality of conductive, threaded rods disposed perpendicularly to the anode plates and configured to secure the top sections of the anodes to the lower end of the frame and to hold the plates in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to each other such that none of the plates are in direct contact with each other; and a plurality of cathodes, wherein each cathode is made of carbon cloth connected to the upper end of the frame.

A fuel cell module includes a plurality of power generation cells. Each of the power generation cells includes an electrolyte electrode assembly for performing power generation by utilizing a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas. The plurality of power generation cells are stacked together in a circle, and a tightening load is applied to the plurality of power generation cells in a circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of power generation cells has a V-shape, and a peak of the V-shape is oriented to the center of the fuel cell module.

A flow battery includes a first liquid containing a first electrode mediator dissolved therein, a first electrode immersed in the first liquid, a first active material immersed in the first liquid, and a first circulation mechanism that circulates the first liquid between the first electrode and the first active material, wherein the first electrode mediator includes a bicarbazyl derivative. For example, the bicarbazyl derivative is represented by the general formula (1).

A fuel cell module according to the present embodiment includes a hydrodesulfurizer, a cell stack, an exhaust gas channel portion, and an air-preheating channel portion. The hydrodesulfurizer is configured to desulfurize fuel gas using a hydrodesulfurization catalyst. A reformer is configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas. The cell stack is constituted by stacking a plurality of fuel cells and is configured to generate electric power. The exhaust gas channel portion is configured to discharge the hydrogen-containing gas, and discharge exhaust gas that is generated by the combustion of the oxygen-containing gas. The air-preheating channel portion is an air-preheating channel portion that is disposed so as to be adjacent to the exhaust gas channel portion and that is configured to preheat the oxygen-containing gas through heat exchange with the exhaust gas channel portion. The air-preheating channel portion is disposed between the hydrodesulfurizer and the cell stack.

Fuel cell devices and systems are provided. In certain embodiments, the devices include a ceramic support structure having a length, a width, and a thickness with the length direction being the dominant direction of thermal expansion. A reaction zone having at least one active layer therein is spaced from the first end and includes first and second opposing electrodes, associated active first and second gas passages, and electrolyte. The active first gas passage includes sub-passages extending in the y direction and spaced apart in the x direction. An artery flow passage extends from the first end along the length and into the reaction zone and is fluidicly coupled to the sub-passages of the active first gas passage. The thickness of the artery flow passage is greater than the thickness of the sub-passages. In other embodiments, fuel cell devices include second sub-passages for the active second gas passage and a second artery flow passage coupled thereto, and extending from either the first end or the second end into the reaction zone. In yet other embodiments, one or both electrodes of a fuel cell device are segmented.

The disclosure relates to a method for using fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a container, wherein the container comprises a housing and a nozzle, and the housing defines through holes; the housing defines a chamber and an opening; the nozzle has a first end in air/fluid communication with the opening and a second end; and a membrane electrode assembly, which is flexible, on the container to form a curved membrane electrode assembly surrounding the chamber and covering the through holes, wherein the membrane electrode assembly comprises a proton exchange membrane having a first surface and a second surface, a cathode electrode on the first surface and an anode electrode on the second surface. The method includes at least partially immersing the fuel cell in a fuel; and supplying an oxidizing gas into the chamber.