Efficient and robust bifunctional electrocatalysts for both the oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction are required for renewable energy technologies such as fuel cells, water electrolysers and rechargeable metal-air batteries. To address this requirement an electrode is provided comprising carbon sphere chains (CSCs) upon a current collector, wherein the CSCs have a functionalized surface bearing oxygen-containing functional groups and manganese oxide (MnOx) nanorods attached to the functionalized surfaces of the CSCs. A manufacturing sequence for these electrodes is provided comprising providing a current collector having a surface that is catalytically active towards the growth of CSCs, growing CSCs on the catalytically active surface, functionalizing the surface of the CSCs, and growing MnOx nanorods on the functionalized surface.

A catalytic nanomaterial includes a Janus hollow nanostructure of a heterophase noble metal and a heterophase non-precious metal. The method for synthesizing the catalytic nanomaterial and the use of the catalytic nanomaterial are also addressed.

Disclosed herein are catalytic proton transport membranes and methods of making an use thereof. The catalytic proton transport membranes comprising a two-dimensional (2D) material having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface further comprises a catalytic material deposited thereon, wherein the membrane allows for proton transport through the membrane.

An electrochemical cell is disclosed. The electrochemical cell may include a first electrode including carbon nanotubes and one or more catalysts formulated to accelerate one or more non-oxidative deprotonation reactions to produce at least one hydrocarbon compound, H.sup.+, and e.sup. from at least one other hydrocarbon compound, a second electrode, and an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode. The carbon nanotubes may be oriented at least substantially vertically relative to the electrolyte. Related methods and systems are disclosed.

An electrode for a flow battery and a method for producing the electrode enable the electrode to be placed in contact with an electrolytic solution of the flow battery. The electrode includes a first portion consisting of particles of electrically conductive material having nanometric dimensions. The first portion is mesoporous with a porosity that increases the quantity of redox reactions per time unit in a flow of the electrolytic solution of the battery.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to SOC cells comprising a conformal nanolayer comprising PrO.sub.x on an oxygen electrode backbone, e.g., an LSM oxygen electrode. The disclosed SOC cells comprising a conformal nanolayer comprising PrO.sub.x on an oxygen electrode backbone are prepared using a disclosed Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) coating method. The SOC cells comprising a conformal nanolayer comprising PrO.sub.x on an oxygen electrode backbone can further comprise an additional layer material, e.g., MnO.sub.x and/or CoO.sub.x, thereon or therein the conformal nanolayer comprising PrO.sub.x. The performance of the disclosed SOC cells is improved compared to baseline cells lacking the disclosed ALD coating on an oxygen electrode backbone, e.g., an LSM oxygen electrode. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Provided is a manufacturing method of an electrode for an electrochemical reaction, which is capable of minimizing a loss of a metal precursor and simultaneously reducing a manufacturing time. An embodiment of the present invention provides a manufacturing method of an electrode for an electrochemical reaction, which includes a process of forming a metal thin-film on a substrate disposed in a reactor and in which the metal thin-film is formed as a metal precursor gas derived from a metal precursor is thermally decomposed by a CO.sub.2-laser.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to method of forming an electrocatalyst structure on an electrode, comprising depositing a first layer on the electrode using atomic layer deposition (ALD), wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of discrete nanoparticles of a first electrocatalyst, and depositing one or more of a second layer on the first layer and the electrode using ALD, wherein the one or more second layer comprises a second electrocatalyst, wherein the first layer and the one or more second layers, collectively, form a multi-layer electrocatalyst structure on the electrode. Also disclosed are electrodes having a multi-layer electrocatalyst structure. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to electrodes with a Ruddlesden-Popper phase scaffold and a catalyst coating, symmetrical cells and single electrochemical cells comprising the same, and devices incorporating the same. The Ruddlesden-Popper phase scaffold can be or include Pr.sub.2xBa.sub.xNiO.sub.4+, wherein 0x0.4, while the catalyst coating can be a transition metal, transition metal oxide, or perovskite material applied to the scaffold using atomic layer deposition or another means. In an aspect, the catalyst coating can be conformal or non-conformal.

The invention provides an electrode component containing a columnar structure; and a porous collector layer that is prepared on the electrode component. The columnar structure includes multiple columnar sections, the lateral surfaces of which are at least partially in contact with each other. Each columnar part section is provided with a multilayer part wherein different inorganic compound layers are stacked. In addition, the columnar structure includes two or more adjacent columnar sections, which are different from each other in the stacking direction of the multilayer part. For example, each columnar section has a width of 10 nm to 100 nm, and each inorganic compound layer has a thickness of 1 nm to 10 nm.