The objective of the present invention is to provide a method which is for producing a gas diffusion electrode substrate having a high conductivity and a chemical resistance, and by which an increase in production cost can be suppressed. The present invention is a method for producing a gas diffusion electrode substrate in which a microporous layer is formed in a conductive porous body formed by bonding carbon fibers to each other by means of a cured product of a binder resin, the method having, in the following order: a binder resin impregnation step in which a carbon fiber structure is impregnated with a binder resin composition to obtain a pre-impregnated body; a coating step in which the surface of the pre-impregnated body is coated with a microporous layer coating solution; and a heat treatment step in which the pre-impregnated body that has been subjected to the coating step is heat-treated at a temperature of at least 200° C., wherein the binder resin composition is a liquid composition including a binder resin and a carbon powder, the binder resin being a thermosetting resin, and the method does not have a step for heat-treating the pre-impregnated body at a temperature of at least 200° C., between the binder resin impregnation step and the heat treatment step.

The present invention is directed to a rechargeable electrochemical device including a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly spaced-apart from the first electrode assembly, a membrane arranged between the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly, a first transport plate arranged on the first electrode assembly and a second transport plate arranged on the second electrode assembly, an electrolyte disposed in the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly, and a vapor-phase hydrogen carrier in the first transport plate arranged on the first electrode assembly or in the second transport plate arranged on the second electrode assembly; a method for using a rechargeable electrochemical device; and a method for making a rechargeable electrochemical device.

The present invention is directed to a rechargeable electrochemical device including a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly spaced-apart from the first electrode assembly, a membrane arranged between the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly, a first transport plate arranged on the first electrode assembly and a second transport plate arranged on the second electrode assembly, an electrolyte disposed in the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly, and a vapor-phase hydrogen carrier in the first transport plate arranged on the first electrode assembly or in the second transport plate arranged on the second electrode assembly; a method for using a rechargeable electrochemical device; and a method for making a rechargeable electrochemical device.

The present invention relates to a power supply system for underwater vehicles, in particular to a power supply system for autonomous underwater vehicles, to underwater vehicles equipped with such power supply systems and to a method of operating an underwater vehicle. The power supply system for underwater vehicles comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, which on the one hand is in fluid contact with a metal hydride storage tank, and on the other hand, with a membrane module that is capable of extracting dissolved oxygen from water. By combining the above mentioned components, the energy necessary to support the AUV operation and the operation of its sensors can be provided, replacing in an efficient and sustainable way the currently employed battery energy systems. For the operation of gliders, a weight compensating mechanism could also be implemented.

The present invention relates to a power supply system for underwater vehicles, in particular to a power supply system for autonomous underwater vehicles, to underwater vehicles equipped with such power supply systems and to a method of operating an underwater vehicle. The power supply system for underwater vehicles comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, which on the one hand is in fluid contact with a metal hydride storage tank, and on the other hand, with a membrane module that is capable of extracting dissolved oxygen from water. By combining the above mentioned components, the energy necessary to support the AUV operation and the operation of its sensors can be provided, replacing in an efficient and sustainable way the currently employed battery energy systems. For the operation of gliders, a weight compensating mechanism could also be implemented.

Provided is an LDH separator including a porous substrate and a mixture of a layered double hydroxide (LDH)-like compound and In(OH).sub.3, which fills up pores of the porous substrate. The LDH-like compound is a hydroxide and/or an oxide with a layered crystal structure containing Mg, Ti, Y, and optionally Al and/or In.

Provided is an LDH separator including a porous substrate and a mixture of a layered double hydroxide (LDH)-like compound and In(OH).sub.3, which fills up pores of the porous substrate. The LDH-like compound is a hydroxide and/or an oxide with a layered crystal structure containing Mg, Ti, Y, and optionally Al and/or In.

A method for producing a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, includes a substrate preparation step of preparing a substrate for the gas diffusion layer; a slurry preparation step of preparing a slurry for a microporous layer containing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) diffused in solvent; a microporous layer forming step of forming a microporous layer by applying the slurry onto the substrate; and a heat-treatment step of controlling the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer by heating the substrate having the microporous layer applied thereonto. Also disclosed is a gas diffusion layer produced thereby. The method may control the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer by variably controlling the heat-treatment temperature.

A method for producing a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, includes a substrate preparation step of preparing a substrate for the gas diffusion layer; a slurry preparation step of preparing a slurry for a microporous layer containing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) diffused in solvent; a microporous layer forming step of forming a microporous layer by applying the slurry onto the substrate; and a heat-treatment step of controlling the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer by heating the substrate having the microporous layer applied thereonto. Also disclosed is a gas diffusion layer produced thereby. The method may control the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer by variably controlling the heat-treatment temperature.

The disclosed technology relates to redox flow batteries (“RFB”), and particularly to electrolytes useful in RFBs based on 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (“DMTD”) and derivatives thereof.