A first aspect of the invention relates to an electrocatalytically active nanocomposite material, comprising electrically conductive carbon material decorated with platinum nanoparticles or nanoclusters anchored thereon. The decorated electrically conductive carbon material is overcoated with catecholamine-based polymer. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing electrocatalytically active nanocomposite material.

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The SOFC includes an anode layer, an electrolyte layer deposited on the anode layer, and a plurality of microstructures deposited on the electrolyte layer. Each microstructure includes a plurality of layers of microstructure ink including a microstructure material. The SOFC also includes a cathode layer deposited on the electrolyte layer and the plurality of microstructures. Each microstructure may be shaped like a frustum having a first and second base. The first base is substantially parallel to the second base. The method includes depositing the electrolyte layer on the anode layer, constructing the plurality of microstructures on the electrolyte layer by printing a plurality of layers of microstructure ink directly on to the electrolyte layer using an inkjet printing system, then depositing a cathode layer upon the electrolyte layer and the plurality of microstructures.

A CoVO.sub.x composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 0.5-5 m thick layer of CoVO.sub.x having pores with average diameters of 2-200 nm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a cobalt complex, and a vanadium complex. The CoVO.sub.x composite electrode is capable of being used in an electrochemical cell for water oxidation.

Disclosed is a fuel cell with enhanced mass transfer characteristics in which a highly hydrophobic porous medium, which is prepared by forming a micro-nano dual structure in which nanometer-scale protrusions with a high aspect ratio are formed on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale roughness by plasma etching and then by depositing a hydrophobic thin film thereon, is used as a gas diffusion layer, thereby increasing hydrophobicity due to the micro-nano dual structure and the hydrophobic thin film. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, it is possible to reduce water flooding by efficiently discharging water produced by an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell and to improve the performance of the fuel cell by facilitating the supply of reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA).

The invention provides a permeable metal substrate and its manufacturing method. The permeable metal substrate includes a substrate body and a permeable powder layer. The permeable powder layer is located on the top of the substrate body. The substrate body can be a thick substrate or formed of a thick substrate and a thin substrate that are welded together. Both the thick and thin substrates have a plurality of permeable straight gas channels. In addition, a metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell and its manufacturing method are also provided.

The present disclosure provides improved films/coatings (e.g., catalyst films/coatings), and improved assemblies/methods for fabricating such films/coatings. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous assemblies/methods for fabricating or synthesizing catalytic material (e.g., catalytic nanostructures) in flame and depositing the catalytic material onto substrates. The present disclosure provides improved catalytic nanostructures, and improved assemblies and methods for their manufacture. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for methods/assemblies for synthesizing electrocatalytic nanostructures in flame and depositing such material or catalyst onto different substrates or supports. As such, the present disclosure provides advantageous assemblies that are configured and dimensioned to deposit fully dense, controlled porosity films (e.g., films of metals and oxides or core-shell particles) onto different substrates.

Improved catalyst layers for use in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, and methods for making such catalyst layers, are provided. Catalyst layers can comprise structured units of catalyst, catalyst support, and ionomer. The structured units can provide for more efficient electrical energy production and/or increased lifespan of fuel cells utilizing such membrane electrode assemblies. Catalyst layers can be directly deposited on exchange membranes, such as proton exchange membranes.

A gas diffusion electrode is described, especially for use in chloralkali electrolysis, said gas diffusion electrode having finely divided components on the liquid side. The electrode is notable for a low perviosity to gases and a lower operating voltage.

Disclosed are a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode in which IrO.sub.2 is electrodeposited and formed on a porous carbon material and platinum is applied thereon to form a porous platinum layer, a reversible fuel cell including the same, and a method for preparing the same. According to the corresponding reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode, as the loading amounts of IrO.sub.2 and platinum used in the reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode can be lowered, it is possible to exhibit excellent reversible fuel cell performances (excellent fuel cell performance and water electrolysis performance) by improving the mass transport of water and oxygen while being capable of reducing the loading amounts of IrO.sub.2 and platinum. Further, it is possible to exhibit a good activity of a catalyst when the present disclosure is applied to a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode and to reduce corrosion of carbon.

A method for producing catalyst particles, which are for an electrochemical reaction and in which catalytic noble metal particles are carried on conductive oxide particles, includes: using metal atom-containing organic compounds as a precursor of the conductive oxide particles and a precursor of the catalytic noble metal particles, and dissolving the metal atom-containing organic compounds in an organic solvent to obtain a precursor solution; and spraying and combusting the precursor solution.