Disclosed are an excellent-durability carbon-based catalyst for a fuel cell, a preparation method therefor, and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprising same, the excellent-durability carbon-based catalyst for a fuel cell, in order to protect a carbon-based support which rapidly corrodes in a fuel cell operating environment, having a ceramic material having strong corrosion resistance coated so as to form a ceramic coating layer of which a portion protrudes in the form of needles.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to membrane electrode assemblies. The membrane electrode assembly may include at least one gas-diffusion layer having a first side and a second side, and particle cores adhered to at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer. The particle cores includes surfaces adhered to the at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer and surfaces not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer. Furthermore, a thin layer of catalytically atoms may be adhered to the surfaces of the particle cores not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to membrane electrode assemblies. The membrane electrode assembly may include at least one gas-diffusion layer having a first side and a second side, and particle cores adhered to at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer. The particle cores includes surfaces adhered to the at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer and surfaces not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer. Furthermore, a thin layer of catalytically atoms may be adhered to the surfaces of the particle cores not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer.

A redox flow battery may include: a membrane interposed between a first electrode positioned at a first side of the membrane and a second electrode positioned at a second side of the membrane opposite to the first side; a first flow field plate comprising a plurality of positive flow field ribs, each of the plurality of positive flow field ribs contacting the first electrode at first supporting regions on the first side; and the second electrode, including an electrode spacer positioned between the membrane and a second flow field plate, the electrode spacer comprising a plurality of main ribs, each of the plurality of main ribs contacting the second flow field plate at second supporting regions on the second side, each of the second supporting regions aligned opposite to one of the plurality of first supporting regions. As such, a current density distribution at a plating surface may be reduced.

A method of forming a catalyst material includes coating agglomerates of catalyst support particles with an ionomer material. After coating the agglomerates of catalyst support particles, a catalyst metal precursor is deposited by chemical infiltration onto peripheral surfaces of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles. The catalyst metal precursor is then chemically reduced to form catalyst metal on the peripheral surfaces of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to electrocatalysts. The electrocatalyst may include at least one gas-diffusion layer having a first side and a second side, and particle cores adhered to at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer. The particle cores includes surfaces adhered to the at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer and surfaces not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer. Furthermore, a thin layer of catalytically atoms may be adhered to the surfaces of the particle cores not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer.

An ion exchange-functionalized catalyst support includes a ceramic catalyst support and an ion exchange group at a surface of the ceramic catalyst support. The ceramic catalyst support includes at least one of a covalent nitride, a covalent metal boride, and a covalent carbide.

A method for producing a fuel cell catalyst layer, which is able to allow an ionomer to sufficiently penetrate to the inside of the fine pores of a support with fine pores. The method is a method for producing a fuel cell catalyst layer in which a catalyst is supported on the support with fine pores and is coated with an ionomer, the method comprising: hydrophilizing a surface of the support by use of nitric acid, and dispersing the support, the catalyst and the ionomer by use of a ball mill after the hydrophilizing, wherein the amount of acidic functional groups per specific surface area of the support is set to 1.79 mol/m.sup.2 or more in the hydrophilizing.

Various embodiments provide a method of manufacturing an oxygen electrode. The method comprises: providing an electrically conductive substrate; depositing an electrocatalyst layer on the substrate; and intercalating alkali-metal ions into the catalyst layer. Some other embodiments provide an oxygen electrode manufactured in accordance with the method and a metal-air battery, a regenerative H.sub.2O.sub.2 fuel cell, a direct fuel cell, and an electrochemical cell comprising the oxygen electrode.

Fuel cell catalyst layers and methods of making the same are disclosed. The fuel cell catalyst layer may include a catalyst substrate including a non-woven mat of carbon nanofibers, each having a surface portion and a bulk portion bounded by the surface portion. A plurality of catalyst particles may be included in the catalyst layer, at least a first portion of which are fully embedded within the bulk portion of each of the carbon nanofibers. The method may include spinning a composition including a base polymer, a solvent, and a catalyst precursor into a non-woven fiber mat having the catalyst precursor embedded therein. The mat may then be carbonized to form a carbon fiber substrate and the catalyst precursor may be reacted to form catalyst particles embedded in the substrate. Embedding the catalyst particles may anchor them within the substrate and inhibit them from migrating during fuel cell operation.