The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

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 method of manufacturing a cathode device includes providing a porous substrate and forming a nitrogen-doped graphene layer in the substrate.

An electrochemical cell includes a gas permeable member, a metal member, and an electrically conductive member. The gas permeable member through which a reducing gas is permeable has electrical conductivity. The metal member contains chromium and is connected to the gas permeable member. The electrically conductive member is porous and is located between the gas permeable member and the metal member. The electrically conductive member contains metal particles, and a first element whose first ionization energy and free energy of formation of an oxide per mole of oxygen are smaller than those of chromium.

An electrochemical cell includes a gas permeable member, a metal member, and an electrically conductive member. The gas permeable member through which a reducing gas is permeable has electrical conductivity. The metal member contains chromium and is connected to the gas permeable member. The electrically conductive member is porous and is located between the gas permeable member and the metal member. The electrically conductive member contains metal particles, and a first element whose first ionization energy and free energy of formation of an oxide per mole of oxygen are smaller than those of chromium.

A system comprising a substrate and a ceramic thermal barrier layer formed of columns which is applied to the substrate, characterized in that the columns are spatially separated from each other at the substrate or at least hardly contact each other is disclosed. A method for producing the system by laser welding is also disclosed. The disclosed material makes it possible to produce durable, heat-resistant components that can be used, for example, in turbines or in metal-supported fuel cells.

A system comprising a substrate and a ceramic thermal barrier layer formed of columns which is applied to the substrate, characterized in that the columns are spatially separated from each other at the substrate or at least hardly contact each other is disclosed. A method for producing the system by laser welding is also disclosed. The disclosed material makes it possible to produce durable, heat-resistant components that can be used, for example, in turbines or in metal-supported fuel cells.

In embodiments, a fuel cell stack is provided that includes an interconnect between a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, and a contact layer in contact with, and disposed between, an electrode of the first fuel cell and the interconnect. The contact layer may include a chromium-getter material. This chromium-getter material may consist of lanthanum oxide, lanthanum carbonate, and/or calcium carbonate.

In embodiments, a fuel cell stack is provided that includes an interconnect between a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, and a contact layer in contact with, and disposed between, an electrode of the first fuel cell and the interconnect. The contact layer may include a chromium-getter material. This chromium-getter material may consist of lanthanum oxide, lanthanum carbonate, and/or calcium carbonate.