Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrocatalysts that include a surface and a plurality of catalytically active sites associated with the surface. The catalytically active sites include individually dispersed metallic atoms that are associated with heteroatoms. In some embodiments, the surface includes graphene oxide, the heteroatoms include nitrogen, and the metallic atoms include cobalt. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of mediating an electrocatalytic reaction by exposing a precursor material to an electrocatalyst of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the electrocatalytic reaction is a hydrogen evolution reaction that results in the formation of molecular hydrogen from the precursor material. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the electrocatalysts of the present disclosure by associating a surface with heteroatoms and metallic atoms.

A metal-air battery includes an anode layer including a metal, a cathode layer including an electrically conductive metal oxide, a solid electrolyte layer between the anode layer and the cathode layer, and a bonding layer including a metal, where the bonding layer is disposed between the cathode layer and the solid electrolyte layer.

Dual use gas diffusion-gas evolution electrodes containing diamond-like carbon are described, which can act as gas diffusion electrodes during discharge, and gas evolution electrodes during recharge. Electrodes of the disclosed materials are electrochemically robust, inhibit multi-step reactions, and have high, isotropic thermal conductivity. The disclosed electrodes can be used as air electrodes of rechargeable metal-air batteries.

A metal-air battery has a positive electrode including a positive electrode conductive layer, a first catalyst layer, and a second catalyst layer. The positive electrode conductive layer is a porous layer made of conductive ceramic and has pores filled with an electrolyte solution. The first catalyst layer is a porous layer formed on a surface of the positive electrode conductive layer on the side opposite to the negative electrode, is made of conductive ceramic having a smaller average particle diameter than that of the positive electrode conductive layer, and has pores filled with the electrolyte solution. This improves charge performance. The second catalyst layer is a porous layer formed on a surface of the first catalyst layer on the side opposite to the negative electrode and is made of conductive ceramic having a larger average particle diameter than that of the first catalyst layer. This improves discharge performance.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a method for fabricating a symmetrical solid oxide fuel cell is described. The method includes synthesizing a composition comprising perovskite and applying the composition on an electrolyte support to form both an anode and a cathode.

A lithium-air battery catalyst having a 1D polycrystalline tubes structure of a ruthenium oxide-manganese oxide complex includes the ruthenium oxide-manganese oxide complex having at least one polycrystalline tubes structure among a core fiber-shell patterned nanotubes structure and a double walls patterned composite double tubes structure, and the ruthenium oxide-manganese oxide complex is formed as an air electrode catalyst.

An article having a continuous network of zinc and a continuous network of void space interpenetrating the zinc network. The zinc network is a fused, monolithic structure. A method of: providing an emulsion having a zinc powder and a liquid phase; drying the emulsion to form a sponge; annealing and/or sintering the sponge to form an annealed and/or sintered sponge; heating the annealed and/or sintered sponge in an oxidizing atmosphere to form an oxidized sponge having zinc oxide on the surface of the oxidized sponge; and electrochemically reducing the zinc oxide to form a zinc metal sponge.

A mixed conductor, a method of preparing the same, and a cathode, a lithium-air battery, and an electrochemical device each including the mixed conductor. The mixed conductor is represented by Formula 1 and having electronic conductivity and ionic conductivity:

Li.sub.xMO.sub.2-δ  Formula 1 wherein, in Formula 1, M is a Group 4 element, a Group 5 element, a Group 6 element, a Group 7 element, a Group 8 element, a Group 10 element, a Group 11 element, a Group 12 element, or a combination thereof, and 0<x<1 and 0≤δ≤1 are satisfied.

Disclosed is a noble metal-manganese oxide composite catalyst for a positive electrode of an aqueous rechargeable battery that can regenerate a solvent of an aqueous electrolyte. Also disclosed are a method for preparing the composite catalyst, a positive electrode for an aqueous rechargeable battery including the composite catalyst, and an aqueous rechargeable battery including the positive electrode. The composite catalyst can regenerate reaction products, including gases continuously generated from spontaneous corrosion of the electrodes or side reactions, back to water to prevent depletion of the electrolyte. Due to this ability, the composite catalyst improves the life characteristics of the battery and suppresses the occurrence of excessive overpotentials at the electrodes. Therefore, the use of the composite catalyst is effective in preventing the performance of the battery from deteriorating. In addition, the composite catalyst can prevent an increase in the internal pressure of the battery resulting from gas generation and reduce the risk of fire or explosion, contributing to a significant improvement in the safety of the battery.

Catalyst material comprising nanoparticles dispersed within a metal oxide layer, the metal oxide layer comprises metal oxide comprising at least one metal cation, wherein the nanoparticles comprise Pt, wherein the nanoparticles comprise less than 10 atom % of oxygen, and wherein the metal oxide layer has an average thickness not greater than 50 nanometers. The catalyst material comprising nanoparticles dispersed within a metal oxide layer can be converted, for example, to nanoporous catalyst layer comprising nanoparticles fused together, wherein the nanoparticles comprise Pt, wherein the nanoparticles comprise less than 10 atom % of oxygen, and wherein the layer has an average thickness not greater than 50 nanometers. The nanoporous catalyst layer is useful, for example, in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies.