An anode catalyst layer for a fuel cell includes: electrode catalyst particles; a carbon carrier carrying the electrode catalyst particles; water electrolysis catalyst particles; a proton-conductive binder; and a graphitized carbon, wherein the content of the graphitized carbon in the anode catalyst layer for a fuel cell is 3-70 mass % with respect to the total mass of the electrode catalyst particles, the carbon carrier, and the graphitized carbon.

A porous reduced silica fiber material has a diameter of about 0.1 to about 20 microns and a surface area of about 5 m.sup.2/g to about 400 m.sup.2/g. The porous reduced fiber material may be used to form an electrode having a high capacity and improved cycle life over comparable commercial silicon electrodes.

A method for producing an anode capable of increasing output of a solid oxide fuel cell is provided. The method for producing an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a first step of shaping a mixture that contains a perovskite oxide having proton conductivity and a nickel compound and a second step of firing a shaped product, which has been obtained in the first step, in an atmosphere containing 50% by volume or more of oxygen at 1100° C. to 1350° C. so as to generate an anode.

A metal-ceramic composite for a fuel cell anode is disclosed. In the metal-ceramic composite, the content of the metal is greatly reduced and the intervals between the metal particles are maintained constant, achieving improved activity and conductivity. The metal-ceramic composite includes a metal catalyst raw material and a mixed-conductive ceramic. The metal catalyst raw material is present in an amount such that the content of the metal catalyst nanoparticles in the metal-ceramic composite is significantly lower than in conventional metal-ceramic composites. The presence of a small amount of the metal catalyst nanoparticles in the metal-ceramic composite minimizes the occurrence of stress resulting from a change in the volume of the metal catalyst and provides a solution to the problem of defects, achieving improved life characteristics. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the metal-ceramic composite.

Tubular ceramic structures, e.g., anode components of tubular fuel cells, are manufactured by applying ceramic-forming composition to the external surface of the heat shrinkable polymeric tubular mandrel component of a rotating mandrel-spindle assembly, removing the spindle from the assembly after a predetermined thickness of tubular ceramic structure has been built up on the mandrel and thereafter heat shrinking the mandrel to cause the mandrel to separate from the tubular ceramic structure.

The present invention is to provide a hydrogen oxidation catalyst that does not contain platinum. Disclosed is a hydrogen oxidation catalyst that is a dinuclear transition metal complex having a chemical structure represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): ##STR00001##
wherein, in the general formulae (1) and (2), M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 are each independently Fe or Ru; Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are each independently a cyclopentadienyl group or a pentamethylcyclopentadienyl group; Ar.sup.3 and Ar.sup.4 are each independently a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; and Ar.sup.5 is a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and in the general formula (2), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Flow cell batteries and methods of producing an electric current are provided. In some implementations, a flow cell battery includes an electrochemical cell including an ion exchange membrane, an anode current collector, and a cathode current collector. The space between the ion exchange membrane and the anode current collector forms a first channel and the space between the ion exchange membrane and the cathode current collector forms a second channel. The ion exchange membrane is configured to allow ions to pass between the first and second channel. The battery includes a first tank configured to flow an anolyte through the first channel, wherein the anolyte is hydrogen gas. The battery includes a second tank configured to flow a catholyte through the second channel, wherein the catholyte is a compound that can be reversibly hydrogenated and dehydrogenated. The flow cell battery can be used to generate electric current.

A process for the preparation of a membrane electrode assembly comprising providing, in the following layer order, (I) a green supporting electrode layer comprising a composite of a mixed metal oxide and Ni oxide; (IV) a green mixed metal oxide membrane layer; and (V) a green second electrode layer comprising a composite of a mixed metal oxide and Ni oxide; and sintering all three layers simultaneously.

An electrochemical energy conversion device 10 comprising a stack of solid oxide electrochemical cells 12 alternating with gas separators 14, 16, wherein scavenger material selected from one or both of free alkali metal oxygen-containing compounds and free alkaline earth metal oxygen-containing compounds is provided in or on one or more of the positive electrode-side of the cell 12, the adjacent gas separator 14 and any other structure of the device 10 forming a gas chamber 64 between the cell and the gas separator. The invention also extends to the treated cell 12.

A vehicular power system, a vehicle and a method of providing auxiliary power to a vehicle using an auxiliary power unit that uses a molten metal anode solid oxide fuel cell rather than an internal combustion engine. The auxiliary power unit includes a container with numerous fuel cells disposed within it such that when the metal anode is heated, the metal converts to a molten state that can be electrochemically cycled between oxidized and reduced states by oxygen and a fuel present in the molten metal, respectively. The auxiliary power unit further includes a furnace that selectively provides heat to the fuel cells in order to place the anode into its molten metal state. Seals may provide fluid isolation between the molten metal within the container and the ambient environment.