An electrochemical reaction unit including a single cell including an electrolyte layer containing solid oxide, and a cathode and an anode which face each other in a first direction with the electrolyte layer intervening therebetween; a current collector disposed on a cathode side of the single cell and having a protrusion protruding toward the cathode; an electrically conductive coat covering a surface of the current collector; and an electrically conductive bonding layer bonding the cathode and the protrusion covered with the coat. In all sections of the protrusion taken in parallel with the first direction, a corner portion of the protrusion covered with the coat is covered with the bonding layer.

An electrochemical reaction unit including a single cell including an electrolyte layer containing solid oxide, and a cathode and an anode which face each other in a first direction with the electrolyte layer intervening therebetween; a current collector disposed on a cathode side of the single cell and having a protrusion protruding toward the cathode; an electrically conductive coat covering a surface of the current collector; and an electrically conductive bonding layer bonding the cathode and the protrusion covered with the coat. In all sections of the protrusion taken in parallel with the first direction, a corner portion of the protrusion covered with the coat is covered with the bonding layer.

The alloy member includes a base member constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, a chromium oxide layer for covering at least a portion of a surface of the base member, a pore that is formed in an interface region of the base member that is located 30 m or less from an interface between the chromium oxide layer and the base member, and an extending portion extending from the pore into the base member. The pore is configured to inhibit separation of the chromium oxide layer from the base member The extending portion contains an oxide of an element whose equilibrium oxygen pressure is lower than that of a major element of the base member.

The alloy member includes a base member constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, a chromium oxide layer for covering at least a portion of a surface of the base member, a pore that is formed in an interface region of the base member that is located 30 m or less from an interface between the chromium oxide layer and the base member, and an extending portion extending from the pore into the base member. The pore is configured to inhibit separation of the chromium oxide layer from the base member The extending portion contains an oxide of an element whose equilibrium oxygen pressure is lower than that of a major element of the base member.

Embodiments of the invention include fuel cells incorporating sheets and/or powders of silica fibers and methods for producing such devices. The silica fibers may be formed via electrospinning of a sol gel produced with a silicon alkoxide reagent, such as tetraethyl ortho silicate, alcohol solvent, and an acid catalyst.

The invention relates to an anode and electrolyte and cathode in direct material contact in fuel cell applications, so that the anode and electrolyte, and the cathode and electrolyte, particularly at temperatures >400 C., can react in a solid chemical manner. Said reaction results in that the material of the anodes can diffuse into the electrolyte and vice versa, and the material of the cathodes can diffuse into the electrolyte or vice versa. The effect thereof is the modification of the electrical energy yield of the fuel cells. In order to prevent said effect, it is proposed according to the invention that a blocking layer is disposed between the electrolyte and anode and electrolyte and cathode and is made of areas having opened and closed pores and that the functional penetration paths for the diffusion are formed by the frame structure thus created.

The invention relates to an anode and electrolyte and cathode in direct material contact in fuel cell applications, so that the anode and electrolyte, and the cathode and electrolyte, particularly at temperatures >400 C., can react in a solid chemical manner. Said reaction results in that the material of the anodes can diffuse into the electrolyte and vice versa, and the material of the cathodes can diffuse into the electrolyte or vice versa. The effect thereof is the modification of the electrical energy yield of the fuel cells. In order to prevent said effect, it is proposed according to the invention that a blocking layer is disposed between the electrolyte and anode and electrolyte and cathode and is made of areas having opened and closed pores and that the functional penetration paths for the diffusion are formed by the frame structure thus created.

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

A cell stack device includes a manifold, a fuel cell, and an oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion. The manifold includes a fuel gas supply chamber and a fuel gas collection chamber. The fuel cell extends upward from the manifold. The oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion is disposed upward of the center of the fuel cell. The oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion ejects oxygen-containing gas toward the fuel cell. A support substrate of the fuel cell includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. The first gas channel is connected to a fuel gas supply chamber, and the second gas channel is connected to the fuel gas collection chamber. The first gas channel and the second gas channel are connected to each other in an upper end portion of the fuel cell.