There is provided a catalyst layer for a fuel cell that can inhibit reduction in water electrolysis function. The catalyst layer for a fuel cell according to this disclosure comprises carbon supports on which Pt particles are supported, and Ir oxide particles, wherein the ratio of the mean primary particle size of the Ir oxide particles with respect to the mean primary particle size of the Pt particles is 20 or greater. The mean primary particle size of the Pt particles may be 20.0 nm or smaller and the mean primary particle size of the Ir oxide particles may be 100.0 nm to 500.0 nm.

An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. 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 substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Disclosed herein are membrane-electrode assemblies and fuel cells comprising an anode comprising a first catalyst; a cathode comprising a second catalyst; and a proton exchange membrane between the anode and cathode; wherein at least one of the proton exchange membrane, anode, and cathode comprise an antioxidant comprising yttrium doped cerium oxide and a metal doped cerium oxide that has a faster release time of cerium ions compared to yttrium doped cerium oxide.

A layered double hydroxide is represented by the following formula (I): Ni.sup.2+.sub.1−(x+y+z)Fe.sup.3+.sub.xV.sup.3+.sub.yCo.sup.3+.sub.z(OH).sub.2A.sup.n−.sub.(x+y+z)/n.Math.mH.sub.2O . . . (I). In one embodiment, in the formula (I), (x+y+z) is from 0.2 to 0.5, “x” represents more than 0 and 0.3 or less, “y” represents from 0.04 to 0.49, and “z” represents more than 0 and 0.2 or less.

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes an ionically-conductive proton exchange membrane, an anode contacting a first side of the membrane and a cathode contacting a second side of the membrane and including third catalyst particles and a cathode GDL. The anode includes an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL), a first anode catalyst layer containing first catalyst particles, a hydrophobic polymer bonding agent, and a first ionomer bonding agent that lacks functional chains on a molecular backbone, and a second anode catalyst layer containing second catalyst particles and a second ionomer bonding agent that includes functional chains on a molecular backbone.

An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. 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 substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

A membrane electrode assembly can include an anode layer. The anode layer can include a first layer, and a second layer. The second layer can include a cerium oxide. A method of assembling a membrane electrode assembly can include provision of a membrane, a first layer, and a second layer. The second layer can include a cerium oxide. The first layer can be disposed on the second layer to form an anode layer. The anode layer can be disposed on an anode side of the membrane.

A protonated dimeric ionic liquid that enhances and improves the performance of a fuel cell catalyst. The protonated dimeric ionic liquid comprises 9′9′-(butane-1, 4-diyl)bis(3,4,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-1-ium) 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane-1-sulfonate (HTBD) Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) employing the protonated dimeric ionic liquid are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for producing a supported catalyst material for a fuel-cell electrode, as well as a catalyst material that can be produced using said method. In the method, first, a carbide-forming substance is deposited from the gas phase onto the carbon-based carrier material to produce a carbide-containing layer and, then, a catalytically-active precious metal or an alloy thereof from the gas phase is deposited to form a catalytic layer. By chemical reaction of the carbide-forming substance with the carbon, very stable carbide bonds are formed at the interface, while an alloy phase of the two forms at the interface between carbide-forming substance and precious metal. Overall, a very stable adhesion of the catalytic precious metal to the substrate results, whereby degradation effects are reduced, and the life of the material is extended.