An electrochemical cell includes an electrolyte arranged between a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode. The electrolyte contains a ceria-based material having a fluorite crystal structure and a stabilized zirconia-based material. The electrolyte may include a first electrolyte located on a side close to the hydrogen electrode and containing the ceria-based material. The electrolyte may further include a second electrolyte located on a side close to the oxygen electrode and containing the ceria-based material. The electrolyte may further include a third electrolyte located between the first electrolyte and the second electrolyte and containing the stabilized zirconia-based material.

Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.

A metal plate is formed by stacking a plurality of thin metal plates. The thin metal plates are respectively provided with a plurality of through holes passing therethrough in the thickness direction. The metal plate is provided with penetration spaces 1c formed by the through holes of the plurality of thin metal plates that are in communication with each other in a state in which thin metal plates are stacked. A metal plate aspect ratio that is a value obtained by dividing the thickness of each of the thin metal plates by the inner diameter of the through holes is 2 or less. A metal support aspect ratio that is a value obtained by dividing the overall thickness of the metal plate by the minimum inner diameter of the penetration spaces is 3 or more.

A highly efficient fuel cell capable of reasonably and effectively utilizing an internal reforming reaction is obtained even when an anode layer provided in a fuel cell element has a thickness of several tens of micron order. A fuel cell single unit is configured to include a reducing gas supply path for supplying a gas containing hydrogen to an anode layer, a steam supply path for supplying steam generated in a fuel cell element to the reducing gas supply path, and an internal reforming catalyst layer for producing hydrogen from a raw fuel gas by a steam reforming reaction are provided in the fuel cell single unit, and at least one steam supply path is provided on an upstream side of the internal reforming catalyst layer in a flow direction of the reducing gas supplied to the anode layer.

Provided is an electrolyte layer-anode composite member for a fuel cell, the electrolyte layer-anode composite member including an anode and a solid electrolyte layer having ion conductivity, the anode being an aggregate of granules including a composite metal, the composite metal including a nickel element and an iron element, the granules including a plurality of pores, the composite metal accounting for 80% by mass or more of the anode, the anode having a bulk density of 75% or less of a real density of the composite metal. Also provided is a cell structure including the electrolyte layer-anode composite member for a fuel cell described above, and a cathode arranged on a side of the solid electrolyte layer.

A solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal support cell, in which an anode layer containing nickel, an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer are stacked on a metal support portion. In the method for activating the anode layer in the solid oxide fuel cell, first, an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the anode layer to oxidize the nickel. Next, a hydrogen-containing gas HG is introduced into the anode layer to reduce the nickel oxide formed by oxidizing the nickel, and to increase conduction paths of the nickel that electrically connect the electrolyte layer to the metal support part in the anode layer.

A solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal support cell, in which an anode layer containing nickel, an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer are stacked on a metal support portion. In the method for activating the anode layer in the solid oxide fuel cell, first, an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the anode layer to oxidize the nickel. Next, a hydrogen-containing gas HG is introduced into the anode layer to reduce the nickel oxide formed by oxidizing the nickel, and to increase conduction paths of the nickel that electrically connect the electrolyte layer to the metal support part in the anode layer.

An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode, an air electrode containing a perovskite type oxide as a main component, the perovskite type oxide being represented by a general formula ABO.sub.3 and containing La and Sr at an A site, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. The air electrode includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located on a side opposite to the solid electrolyte layer, the second portion being located on the solid electrolyte layer side. A first ratio of an La concentration to an Sr concentration detected at the first portion through Auger electron spectroscopy is at least 1.1 times a second ratio of an La concentration to an Sr concentration detected at the second portion through Auger electron spectroscopy.

The present invention relates to the field of redox flow batteries and combines the conventional use of a redox flow battery for electrochemical energy storage with the production of hydrogen as additional energy storage system. Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrode for a redox flow battery, which is suitable for such dual use as well as a respective redox flow battery. The present invention also provides a method for generating hydrogen with a redox flow battery. Such a method is useful for energy storage during daily as well as seasonal fluctuations in energy production.

A fuel cell electrode comprises a three-dimensional porous composite structure comprising a porous structure comprising a plurality of metal ligaments and a plurality of pores; and at least one carbon nanotube structure embedded in the porous structure and comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes are arranged along a same direction.