The present invention relates to hybrid gas diffusion layers for electrochemical cells, in particular for membrane electrode units in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and a method for manufacturing them.

The present invention relates to hybrid gas diffusion layers for electrochemical cells, in particular for membrane electrode units in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and a method for manufacturing them.

A single fuel cell according to the present disclosure includes a power generation section, a power non-generation section which does not include the power generation section, and an oxygen-ion-insulating gas seal film arranged so as to cover the surface of the power non-generation section, and the gas seal film is configured by a structure formed by firing a material containing MTiO.sub.3 (M: alkaline earth metal element) and metal oxide. The structure may include a first structure and a second structure which are different in composition, the first structure may include components derived from MTiO.sub.3 in larger amounts than the second structure, the second structure may include a metal element contained in the metal oxide in a larger amount than the first structure, and the area ratio of the second structure in the structure may be not less than 1% and not more than 50%.

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.

A fuel cell column includes first and second fuel cell stacks, a fuel manifold disposed between the first and second fuel cell stacks and configured to provide fuel to the first and second fuel cell stacks, and first and second dielectric separators located between the fuel manifold and the respective first and second fuel cell stacks, and configured to electrically isolate the respective first and second fuel cell stacks from the fuel manifold. The first and second dielectric separators each include a top layer of a ceramic material, a bottom layer of the ceramic material, a middle layer disposed between the top and bottom layers and including a material having a lower density and a higher dielectric strength than the ceramic material, and glass or glass ceramic seals which connect the middle layer to the top and bottom layers.

A fuel cell column includes first and second fuel cell stacks, a fuel manifold disposed between the first and second fuel cell stacks and configured to provide fuel to the first and second fuel cell stacks, and first and second dielectric separators located between the fuel manifold and the respective first and second fuel cell stacks, and configured to electrically isolate the respective first and second fuel cell stacks from the fuel manifold. The first and second dielectric separators each include a top layer of a ceramic material, a bottom layer of the ceramic material, a middle layer disposed between the top and bottom layers and including a material having a lower density and a higher dielectric strength than the ceramic material, and glass or glass ceramic seals which connect the middle layer to the top and bottom layers.

An electrochemical cell according to an embodiment includes a hydrogen electrode, an electrolyte laminated on the hydrogen electrode, a barrier-layer laminated on the electrolyte, and an oxygen electrode laminated on the barrier-layer. The barrier-layer has a porous structure having a thickness of greater than 20 μm and a porosity of greater than 10%.

A fuel cell stack comprises: a substrate; a plurality of single fuel cells each of which includes a fuel side electrode, an electrolyte, and an oxygen side electrode deposited on the substrate; an interconnector film electrically connecting the fuel side electrode of one single fuel cell of adjacent single fuel cells of the plurality of single fuel cells and the oxygen side electrode of the other single fuel cell; and a porous ceramic film covering at least the interconnector film in a region between a first fuel side electrode of one single fuel cell of adjacent single fuel cells and a second fuel side electrode of the other single fuel cell.

A method of forming a spinel coating on a substrate is disclosed including the steps of coating at least a portion of the substrate with a precursor including an alloy powder, and sintering the precursor at a temperature of less than 1000 degrees Celsius to form the spinel coating. The alloy powder used for the precursor can include particles having a particle size of less than 10 micrometers. The method can be utilized to form spinel coatings as contact surfaces between electrodes and interconnects of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks.

A method of forming a spinel coating on a substrate is disclosed including the steps of coating at least a portion of the substrate with a precursor including an alloy powder, and sintering the precursor at a temperature of less than 1000 degrees Celsius to form the spinel coating. The alloy powder used for the precursor can include particles having a particle size of less than 10 micrometers. The method can be utilized to form spinel coatings as contact surfaces between electrodes and interconnects of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks.