A method for recovering gold, silver, and/or platinum from components of a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell or electrolyzer includes treating the components with an aqueous electrolyte solution and with at least one gaseous oxidant in the fuel cell or the electrolyzer in an oxidation step. In a reduction step, the components are treated with a flow of an aqueous electrolyte solution and with at least one gaseous reductant in the fuel cell or the electrolyzer. A device by which the method can be carried out has a reservoir for the electrolyte solution, a line connected to an outlet opening of the reservoir, the line having a pump, an anode inlet connection connected to an anode inlet, and a cathode inlet connection connected to a cathode inlet. An oxidant-introducer introduces a gaseous oxidant into the line. A reductant-introducer introduces a gaseous reductant and/or inert gas into the line.

To recover materials forming a fuel cell stack by an easy method.

Provided is a method of recovering, from a fuel cell stack having a stack structure including a plurality of fuel cells stacked, materials forming the fuel cell stack, the fuel cells each including a membrane electrode assembly and two separators holding the membrane electrode assembly therebetween, the separators each being provided with a gas flow channel configured to supply a raw material gas to the membrane electrode assembly, the method including: a first step of supplying a solvent or a solvent and a reagent to the fuel cell stack through the gas flow channel, collecting the solvent which contains a material, and recovering the material from the collected solvent; and a second step of subjecting the fuel cell stack after the first step to a heat treatment to obtain a molten liquid or gas and recovering a material from the molten liquid or gas, the materials recovered including materials forming the membrane electrode assembly and the separators.

To recover materials forming a fuel cell stack by an easy method.

Provided is a method of recovering, from a fuel cell stack having a stack structure including a plurality of fuel cells stacked, materials forming the fuel cell stack, the fuel cells each including a membrane electrode assembly and two separators holding the membrane electrode assembly therebetween, the separators each being provided with a gas flow channel configured to supply a raw material gas to the membrane electrode assembly, the method including: a first step of supplying a solvent or a solvent and a reagent to the fuel cell stack through the gas flow channel, collecting the solvent which contains a material, and recovering the material from the collected solvent; and a second step of subjecting the fuel cell stack after the first step to a heat treatment to obtain a molten liquid or gas and recovering a material from the molten liquid or gas, the materials recovered including materials forming the membrane electrode assembly and the separators.

A unit cell for a fuel cell stack including an anode catalyst layer separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane from a cathode catalyst layer, a first cell end plate separated by a first gas diffusion layer from the anode catalyst layer, and a second cell end plate separated by a second gas diffusion layer from the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the first cell end plate, the second cell end plate, or both include a matrix of electrically-conducting protrusions thereof.

A process for the recovery of a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer from a component comprising a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer is disclosed, the process comprising immersing the component comprising the perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer in a solvent comprising an aliphatic diol and heating. Also disclosed is the use of the recovered perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer, for example in to prepared a proton conducting membrane or a catalyst ink.

A process for the recovery of a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer from a component comprising a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer is disclosed, the process comprising immersing the component comprising the perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer in a solvent comprising an aliphatic diol and heating. Also disclosed is the use of the recovered perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer, for example in to prepared a proton conducting membrane or a catalyst ink.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a vanadium battery electrolyte by using a waste vanadium catalyst. The method includes step A: soaking a waste vanadium catalyst in an oxalic acid solution for 2-8 h, to generate a solution containing vanadyl oxalate; step B: cleaning the waste vanadium catalyst, and collecting the vanadyl oxalate solution; and step C: adding a polyacid ester into the vanadyl oxalate solution; and after full reaction, removing impurities by filtration, and concentrating the filtrate to obtain a vanadyl oxalate mother solution. The method for preparing a vanadium battery electrolyte by using a waste vanadium catalyst according to the present invention does not generate wastes which cause environmental pollution in the treatment process, and can make a solution in the waste vanadium catalyst treatment process generate the electrolyte for preparing a vanadium battery. The process is simple and the treatment cost is low.

System and methods for refurbishing fuel cell stack components, the methods including singulating the stack using a splitting apparatus or a liquid nitrogen bath. Fuel cell debris may be removed from interconnects of the fuel cell stack using laser heating, flame heating, a die, sonication, a nubbed roller, grit blasting, and/or a high pressure fluid.

System and methods for refurbishing fuel cell stack components, the methods including singulating the stack using a splitting apparatus or a liquid nitrogen bath. Fuel cell debris may be removed from interconnects of the fuel cell stack using laser heating, flame heating, a die, sonication, a nubbed roller, grit blasting, and/or a high pressure fluid.

System and methods for refurbishing fuel cell stack components, the methods including singulating the stack using a splitting apparatus or a liquid nitrogen bath. Fuel cell debris may be removed from interconnects of the fuel cell stack using laser heating, flame heating, a die, sonication, a nubbed roller, grit blasting, and/or a high pressure fluid.