A fuel cell stack includes a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region. At least one of a first number of fuel cell units in the first end region is a first fuel cell unit including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a first catalyst material on either or both an anode and a cathode of the first fuel cell unit. At least one of a second number of fuel cell units in the second end region is a second fuel cell unit including an MEA with a second catalyst material on either or both an anode and a cathode of the first fuel cell unit. The middle region is situated between the first and the second end region. At least one of a third number of fuel cell units in the middle region is a third fuel cell unit including an MEA with a third catalyst material on either or both an anode and a cathode of the first fuel cell unit. At least one of the first, the second, and the third catalyst material are different.

An innovative fuel cell system with membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer (GDL) made of porous metal foam, and a catalyst layer. A fuel cell has a metal foam layer that improves efficiency and lifetime of the conventional gas diffusion layer, which consists of both gas diffusion barrier (GDB) and microporous layer (MPL). This metal foam GDL enables consistent maintenance of the suitable structure and even distribution of pores during the operation. Due to the combination of mechanical and physical properties of metallic foam, the fuel cell is not deformed by external physical strain. Among many other processing methods of open-cell metal foams, ice-templating provides a cheap, easy processing route suitable for mass production. Furthermore, it provides well-aligned and long channel pores, which improve gas and water flow during the operation of the fuel cell.

According to an embodiment, a laminated catalyst includes a first catalyst layer mainly including a noble metal mainly containing Pt, a second catalyst layer mainly including a mixture of an oxide of a noble metal mainly containing Ir and Ru and a noble metal mainly containing Pt, and a third catalyst layer mainly including an oxide of a noble metal mainly containing Ir and Ru The first catalyst layer, the second catalyst layer, and the third catalyst layer are laminated in order.

The invention relates to a catalyst system (9), an electrode (1) which comprises the catalyst system (9), and a fuel cell (10) or an electrolyzer having at least one such electrode (1). The catalyst system (9) comprises an electrically conductive carrier metal oxide and an electrically conductive, metal oxide catalyst material. A near-surface pH value, called pzzp value (pzzp=point of zero zeta potential), of the carrier metal oxide and the catalyst material differ. The catalyst material and the carrier metal oxide form an at least two-phase disperse oxide composite. The carrier metal oxide has a first crystal lattice structure comprising first oxygen lattice sites and first metal lattice sites, wherein the carrier metal oxide on the first oxygen lattice sites is preferably doped with at least one element from the group comprising nitrogen, carbon, and boron, and is optionally additionally doped with hydrogen. The carrier metal oxide has a second crystal lattice structure comprising second oxygen lattice sites and second metal lattice sites, wherein the catalyst material on the second oxygen lattice sites is preferably doped with fluorine and at least one element from the group comprising nitrogen, carbon and boron, and optionally additionally doped with hydrogen.

Fuel cell electrocatalysts and support structures thereof are described herein. The support structures include a suboxide core comprising an oxygen deficient metal oxide and a dopant, and an outer shell covering the suboxide core. The outer shell comprises the dopant in oxide form. The dopant of the suboxide core provides for the suboxide core to be conductive. Methods of forming fuel cell electrocatalysts and support structures thereof are also described herein.

A preparation method of a direct ethanol fuel cell includes synthesizing electrolytes, preparing a cathode and an anode, and clamping the electrolytes between the cathode and the anode to get direct ethanol fuel cell. The electrolytes are synthesized by polymerizing sodium acrylate with an initiator to get a hydrogel, and the hydrogel is soaked in a harsh alkaline solution. The cathode is synthesized by coating N,S codoped carbon catalyst onto a current collector, where the N,S codoped carbon catalyst is synthesized by mixing and preheating silica powder, sucrose and trithiocyanuric acid to get a mixed powder, and mixing and heating the mixed powder with poly tetra fluoroethylene so as to get the N,S codoped carbon catalyst. The anode is synthesized by coating Pt-Ru/C catalyst onto a current collector.

This electrode catalyst of the present invention contains an electrically conductive material that supports a metal or a metal oxide, wherein electrical conductivity at 30° C. is 1×10.sup.−13 Scm.sup.−1 or greater.

A fuel cell catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions including Pt—Ni—Cu nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (MPC) having enhanced activity and durability, and method of making said catalyst. The catalyst is synthesized by employing a solid state chemistry method, which involves thermally pretreating a N-doped MPC to remove moisture from the surface; impregnation of metal precursors on the N-doped MPC under vacuum condition; and reducing the metal precurors in a stream of CO and H.sub.2 gas mixture.

The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells including a hydrogen peroxide generating catalyst and a hydrogen peroxide decomposing catalyst, the electrolyte membrane exhibiting highly improved durability, and a method of manufacturing the same. Specifically, the electrolyte membrane includes a support and a catalyst particle including a catalyst metal supported by the support, the catalyst metal including one selected from the group consisting of a first metal having catalyst activity to generate hydrogen peroxide, a second metal having catalyst activity to decompose hydrogen peroxide, and a combination thereof.

A supported metal catalyst in which an electric conductivity is enhanced. The supported metal catalyst includes a support powder; and metal fine particles supported by the support powder. The support powder is an aggregate of support fine particles; the support fine particles are provided with a chained portion structured by a plurality of crystallites being fusion-bonded to form a chain; the support fine particles are structured with a metal oxide; and the supported amount of metal fine particles per unit area of the surface area of the support powder calculated based on sphere approximation is 3.4 to 13.7 (mg/m.sup.2).