A flow battery according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first liquid containing dissolved therein a charge mediator and a discharge mediator; a first electrode immersed in the first liquid; and a first active material immersed in the first liquid. The equilibrium potential of the charge mediator is lower than the equilibrium potential of the first active material, and the equilibrium potential of the discharge mediator is higher than the equilibrium potential of the first active material.

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 feedstock gas, such as natural gas, is introduced into a mixing chamber. A combustible gas is introduced into a combustion chamber, for example simultaneously to the introduction of the feedstock gas. Thereafter, the combustible gas is ignited so as to cause the combustible gas to flow into the mixing chamber via one or more fluid flow paths between the combustion chamber and the mixing chamber, and to mix with the feedstock gas. The mixing of the combustible gas with the feedstock gas causes one or more products to be produced.

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 energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

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.

Systems and methods to overcome limited efficiency of energy storage and recovery processes in fuel cells are provided. The system include a particle regeneration subsystem for applying electrical energy to regenerate metallic particulate fuel; a fuel storage subsystem for storing metallic particulate fuel, the fuel storage subsystem in fluid communication with the particle regeneration subsystem; and a power generation subsystem for producing electrical energy from the metallic particulate fuel, the power generation subsystem in fluid communication with the fuel storage subsystem; a bearer electrolyte for transporting the metallic particulate fuel through the particle regeneration subsystem, the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem; and a control unit configured to independently control flow of the bearer electrolyte between the particle regeneration subsystem and the fuel storage subsystem, and the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem.

A flow battery includes a first liquid containing a first electrode mediator, a first electrode, a first active material, and a first circulator that circulates the first liquid between the first electrode and the first active material. The first electrode mediator includes at least one benzene derivative that is at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,4-di-tert-butyl-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, 1,4-difluoro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, and 1,4-dibromo-2,5-dimethoxybenzene.

A fuel cell system includes a dry end unit, a wet end unit and a plurality of fuel cells. The dry end unit has a dry base plate and a dry intermediate plate. The dry intermediate plate is initially moveable relative to the dry base plate during a fabrication of the fuel cell system. The wet end unit has a wet base plate and a wet intermediate plate. The wet intermediate plate adjoins the wet base plate. The plurality of fuel cells is disposed between the dry intermediate plate and the wet intermediate plate. Each of the plurality of fuel cells includes a perimeter area that surrounds an active area. The dry intermediate plate is fixed in position relative to the dry base plate during the fabrication to maintain the active areas of the plurality of fuel cells at a target active area pressure.

Provided is a fuel cell catalyst layer including: a fibrous carbon material; catalyst particles; a particulate carbon material; and a proton-conductive resin, wherein a region A including at least the fibrous carbon material in a state of an agglomerated body and a region B including at least the catalyst particles, the particulate carbon material, and the proton-conductive resin are formed, the region A being disposed in an island form in the region B.