A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.

Oxy-fuel combustion of a fuel stream, an oxygen stream and a recycle stream can form an exhaust stream, with, for example, a gas turbine. The exhaust stream can be separated into a water-rich stream and a carbon dioxide-rich stream. At least a portion of the carbon dioxide-rich stream can be divided to form the recycle stream. A second portion of the carbon dioxide-rich stream and a hydrogen stream can generate an exit stream, with, for example, a Sabatier reactor. The exit stream can be separated into a methane-rich gaseous product and a water-rich liquid product.

A system and method including an ion transfer cell including a first side and a second side separated by an ion-permeable membrane. A first flow channel is included on the first side, where the first flow channel includes a first liquid electrolyte slurry, where the first liquid electrolyte slurry comprises first particles, where the first particles are configured to accept or deploy at least one electron-ion pair. A first electrode is included within the first electrode flow channel, where the first electrode is along and in substantial contact with the ion-permeable membrane, where the first electrode is configured to facilitate a flow of ions through the first electrode to and from the first particles and the ion-permeable membrane. The first liquid electrolyte slurry is configured to flow through the first electrode flow channel in one of two opposite directions across the first electrode.

A system and method including an ion transfer cell including a first side and a second side separated by an ion-permeable membrane. A first flow channel is included on the first side, where the first flow channel includes a first liquid electrolyte slurry, where the first liquid electrolyte slurry comprises first particles, where the first particles are configured to accept or deploy at least one electron-ion pair. A first electrode is included within the first electrode flow channel, where the first electrode is along and in substantial contact with the ion-permeable membrane, where the first electrode is configured to facilitate a flow of ions through the first electrode to and from the first particles and the ion-permeable membrane. The first liquid electrolyte slurry is configured to flow through the first electrode flow channel in one of two opposite directions across the first electrode.

An individual solid oxide cell (SOC) constructed of a sandwich configuration including in the following order: an in oxygen electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, a fuel electrode, a fuel manifold, and at least one layer of mesh. In one embodiment, the mesh supports a reforming catalyst resulting in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having a reformer embedded therein. The reformer-modified SOFC functions internally to steam reform or partially oxidize a gaseous hydrocarbon, e.g. methane, to a gaseous reformate of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is converted in the SOC to water, carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof, and an electrical current. In another embodiment, an electrical insulator is disposed between the fuel manifold and the mesh resulting in a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC), which functions to electrolyze water and/or carbon dioxide.

Dual-functional energy storage systems that couple ion extraction and recovery with energy storage and release are provided. The dual-functional energy storage systems use ion-extraction and ion-recovery as charging processes. As the energy used for the ion extraction and ion recovery processes is not consumed, but rather stored in the system through the charging process, and the majority of the energy stored during charging can be recovered during discharging, the dual-functional energy storage systems perform useful functions, such as solution desalination or lithium-ion recovery with a minimal energy input, while storing and releasing energy like a conventional energy storage system.

Dual-functional energy storage systems that couple ion extraction and recovery with energy storage and release are provided. The dual-functional energy storage systems use ion-extraction and ion-recovery as charging processes. As the energy used for the ion extraction and ion recovery processes is not consumed, but rather stored in the system through the charging process, and the majority of the energy stored during charging can be recovered during discharging, the dual-functional energy storage systems perform useful functions, such as solution desalination or lithium-ion recovery with a minimal energy input, while storing and releasing energy like a conventional energy storage system.

A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.

Provided herein are catalyst materials comprising a catalyst support; and PtM′ nanowires affixed to the catalyst support, wherein the PtM′ nanowires include single atomic species of M′ at exterior surfaces of the PtM′ nanowires, and M′ represents at least one metal, e.g., a metal different from Pt. Also disclosed are manufacturing methods comprising: providing initial MM′ nanowires having an initial molar ratio of M:M′, wherein M is a noble metal, and M′ is a metal different from M; subjecting the initial MM′ nanowires to electrochemical dealloying to partially remove M′ and form partially dealloyed MM′ nanowires having a subsequent molar ratio of M:M′, wherein the subsequent molar ratio of M:M′ is greater than the initial molar ratio of M:M′; and affixing the partially dealloyed MM′ nanowires to a catalyst support.

A rechargeable liquid fuel cell system includes an aqueous liquid fuel having a formate salt and a bicarbonate salt. The formate salt electrochemically converts to the bicarbonate salt upon discharge, and the bicarbonate salt electrochemically converts to the formate salt upon charge.