A method may form an electroconductive and hydrophobic microporous layer (MPL) at an active layer surface configured for an electrochemical converter, including: (a) providing a non-aqueous dispersion, called ink, including a carbon-based particulate material and an organic solvent; (b) forming an ink deposit at the active layer surface; and (c) evaporating the solvent(s) to form a microporous layer, simultaneously and/or subsequently to the forming (b). The ink may include poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene), dissolved in the organic solvent. Ink may prepare such a microporous layer, and a multilayer structure including an active layer supported by a solid electrolyte membrane and contacting, at its face on the opposite side the solid membrane, with a microporous layer obtained by the such a method. A membrane-electrode assembly may include such a multilayer structure. Such an MEA may be used in an individual cell of an electrochemical converter, in particular in a PEMFC.

The invention relates to an electrochemical cell having: a membrane electrode assembly (2); two retaining plates (10); a single seal (20) extending around the membrane electrode assembly (2) and disposed in contact with the two retaining plates (10); at least one intermediate leaktight sheet (30) extending around the membrane electrode assembly (2), disposed between the latter and the seal (20) and joined in a leaktight manner to the membrane (4) on the one hand and to the seal (20) on the other.

The planar arrangement having CAE-unit, both a first flow field for an oxidizing gas and a first interconnect arranged on a first side of the CAE-unit, both a second flow field for a combustible gas and a second interconnect arranged on the other side of the CAE-unit, the CAE-unit having a first and a second electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte sandwiched therebetween. The first electrode layer forming the first side of the CAE-unit and the second electrode layer forming the other side. Further including a circumferential sealing member to prevent either the leakage of oxidizing gas or combustible gas to the environment or the mixing of the two gases. The sealing member includes a glass component bound to the upper surface of the second interconnect, and a sheet of ceramic fiber paper or mica arranged so as to cover a side of the glass component facing the first interconnect.

A module for an HTE reactor or an SOFC fuel cell, the module including a circuit for the circulation of a gas, in addition to the reactive gases required for the electrolysis reaction or the reverse reaction in an SOFC cell, the circuit enabling, during the operation under pressure, the additional gas to equalise, on one side of the glass- and/or vitroceramic-based seals, the pressure of the reactive gases generated on the other side.

The invention essentially consists of proposing a novel reactor or fuel cell architecture having an active section of the catalytic material for methanation or reforming reaction integrated into the electrode which varies with the composition of the gases, as they are distributed in accordance with the electrochemistry on said electrode.

Disclosed is an electrochemical reaction cell enhancing a reduction reaction. The electrochemical reaction cell enhancing a reduction reaction comprises: a membrane electrode assembly including a polymer electrolytic membrane, a cathode formed by sequentially stacking a first gas diffusion layer and a first catalyst layer on one surface of the electrolytic membrane, and an anode formed by sequentially stacking a second catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer on the other surface of the electrolytic membrane; a first distribution plate stacked on the first catalyst layer to supply a reaction gas and a cathode electrolytic solution dissolved with the reaction gas to the first catalyst layer along separate channels; and a second distribution plate stacked on the second gas diffusion layer to supply an anode electrolytic solution to the second gas diffusion layer.

The invention relates to a device (1) for Converting chemical energy into electrical energy, or electrical energy into chemical energy, having at least one electrochemically active, planar cell (2) that is held securely between coaxial annular disks (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) of an electrically insulating support frame (10), through which a supply structure with Channels (22, 23, 13, 33) for process media extends to the cell (2). A free spatial region (8a, 8b) is present on either side of the cell (2) in the axial direction, which region is bounded in the radial direction by at least one of the annular disks (10a, 10b). The spatial regions (8a, 8b) are open toward a pressure Chamber (5) via at least one passage (42a, 42b) through the corresponding annular disk (10a, 10b). When the device (1) is in Operation, the pressure Chamber (5) is filled with a pressurized medium, as a consequence of which the cells are compressed. In this manner, the device (1) according to the invention combines the advantages of a convention Stack of cells (2,2) with a hydraulic or pneumatic compression.

A device for bonding fuel cell parts may include a die, which forms vacuum suction holes, a lower hot press, respectively installed on both edges of a lower die to be movable in a vertical direction an upper die, installed to be movable in a vertical direction from the upper side of the lower die, a vacuum attachment member, which constitutes the same plane with the lower surface of the upper die, forms vacuum suction holes on the lower surface, and is installed on the upper die to be movable in a vertical direction while corresponding to the upper surface of the lower die between the lower hot press, and an upper hot press, respectively installed between both edges of the upper die to be movable in a vertical direction while corresponding to the lower hot press and constituting the same plane with the lower surface of the upper die.

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode having a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) structure. The YSZ structure is in contact with a solid electrolyte layer. A lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) structure is deposited on the YSZ structure to form a composite cathode. The cathode includes a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer is a mesoporous nanoionic catalyst material integrated with the YSZ and LSM structures. Alternatively, or in addition to, the mesoporous nanoionic catalyst material may be coated onto the YSZ and LSM structures or embedded into the YSZ and LSM structures. The mesoporous nanoionic catalyst material may form an interconnected fibrous network.

An attachment structure for a deformation absorption member of a fuel-cell-stack includes a first raised piece raised from one surface of a base material in a grid pattern, and having an extension portion extending from a proximal end, the extension portion abutting at least one of the cathode side separator or the anode side separator, a second raised piece having a proximal end, and a joint portion formed by partially joining a location between the proximal end of the first raised piece and the proximal end of the second raised piece, proximal end of the first raised piece being adjacent the proximal end of the second raised piece in a second direction that intersects a first direction taken from the proximal end of the first raised piece to an extension portion side, to the at least one of the anode side separator and the cathode side separator.