A lithium battery and method for fabricating the same are provided herein. The battery cathode comprises a carbon structure filled with a catalyst, such as palladium-catalyst-filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The carbon structure provides a barrier between the catalyst and the electrolyte providing an increased stability of the electrolyte during both discharging and charging of a battery.

Implementations of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) include a current collector, an electrolyte layer, and an anode. The electrolyte layer may be a solid electrolyte layer. The anode may include one or more micro-pathways that extend between the current collector and the electrolyte layer. The micro-pathways may be constructed of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Each micro-pathway is in contact with the electrolyte layer and provides a direct pathway between the electrolyte layer and the current collector. The direct pathway created by the micro-pathways may be the shortest distance between the electrolyte layer and the current collector. Each of the one or more micro-pathways may be coated with electrocatalyst nanoparticles. A barrier material may be disposed between each micro-pathway and the current collector to prevent contact between the current collector and the electrocatalyst nanoparticles.

Implementations of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) include a current collector, an electrolyte layer, and an anode. The electrolyte layer may be a solid electrolyte layer. The anode may include one or more micro-pathways that extend between the current collector and the electrolyte layer. The micro-pathways may be constructed of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Each micro-pathway is in contact with the electrolyte layer and provides a direct pathway between the electrolyte layer and the current collector. The direct pathway created by the micro-pathways may be the shortest distance between the electrolyte layer and the current collector. Each of the one or more micro-pathways may be coated with electrocatalyst nanoparticles. A barrier material may be disposed between each micro-pathway and the current collector to prevent contact between the current collector and the electrocatalyst nanoparticles.

A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator and a fuel gas pump configured to return the fuel off-gas in the gas-liquid separator to the fuel cell stack. The gas-liquid separator has a first connecting portion extending upward. The fuel gas pump has an inner wall surface constituting a pump chamber, and a lower part of the inner wall surface is provided with an opening into which the first connecting portion is inserted. The lower part of the inner wall surface is inclined downward toward the opening. A tip end of the first connecting portion is disposed at a height equal to or lower than a height of an extension plane extending along the lower part of the inner wall surface. The tip end of the first connecting portion is provided with an inclined surface inclined downward toward the inner peripheral surface.

A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator and a fuel gas pump configured to return the fuel off-gas in the gas-liquid separator to the fuel cell stack. The gas-liquid separator has a first connecting portion extending upward. The fuel gas pump has an inner wall surface constituting a pump chamber, and a lower part of the inner wall surface is provided with an opening into which the first connecting portion is inserted. The lower part of the inner wall surface is inclined downward toward the opening. A tip end of the first connecting portion is disposed at a height equal to or lower than a height of an extension plane extending along the lower part of the inner wall surface. The tip end of the first connecting portion is provided with an inclined surface inclined downward toward the inner peripheral surface.

A bipolar plate (20) for making a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell stack, said bipolar plate (20) being made up of metal sheets that are shaped and assembled together in such a manner as to define primary fluid-flow channels (24) and secondary fluid-flow channels (25) that are arranged in alternation, said primary channels (24) being formed between said assembled-together sheets; the bipolar plate (20) being characterized in that it includes mechanical reinforcement (35) made out of metal material arranged in a reinforcing duct (30) of the bipolar plate (20), said metal reinforcement (35) being configured in such a manner as to oppose a compression force applied to the bipolar plate (20), said bipolar plate (20) further including a source of electricity adapted to feed electric current to the mechanical reinforcement (35) and thereby give off heat by the Joule effect.

A bipolar plate (20) for making a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell stack, said bipolar plate (20) being made up of metal sheets that are shaped and assembled together in such a manner as to define primary fluid-flow channels (24) and secondary fluid-flow channels (25) that are arranged in alternation, said primary channels (24) being formed between said assembled-together sheets; the bipolar plate (20) being characterized in that it includes mechanical reinforcement (35) made out of metal material arranged in a reinforcing duct (30) of the bipolar plate (20), said metal reinforcement (35) being configured in such a manner as to oppose a compression force applied to the bipolar plate (20), said bipolar plate (20) further including a source of electricity adapted to feed electric current to the mechanical reinforcement (35) and thereby give off heat by the Joule effect.

An electrochemical reaction unit including a unit cell including an electrolyte layer, and a cathode and an anode that face each other in a first direction with the electrolyte layer intervening therebetween; and a felt member containing a ceramic material or a metal and a silica component. The felt member has an Si content of 0.9 mass % to 13.2 mass %. Also disclosed is an electrochemical reaction cell stack including a plurality of electrochemical reaction units, at least one of the units being the above-described electrochemical reaction unit.

An electrochemical reaction unit including a unit cell including an electrolyte layer, and a cathode and an anode that face each other in a first direction with the electrolyte layer intervening therebetween; and a felt member containing a ceramic material or a metal and a silica component. The felt member has an Si content of 0.9 mass % to 13.2 mass %. Also disclosed is an electrochemical reaction cell stack including a plurality of electrochemical reaction units, at least one of the units being the above-described electrochemical reaction unit.

A fuel cell array comprises a plurality of serially connected fuel cell units. A respective fuel cell unit comprises a fuel cell and a cap capped on each end of the fuel cell. The fuel cell unit further comprises an electrically conductive terminal layer forming an outermost laminate of the fuel cell at one end of the fuel cell. The terminal layer is directly laminated on a fuel electrode layer and directly laminated on a solid electrolyte layer. The fuel cell unit further comprises a glass material forming a sealing layer circumferentially around the fuel cell to fill between the inner surface of the cap and the outer surface of the fuel cell. The plurality of fuel cell units are electrically connected in series through the electrically conductive terminal layer, not through the cap.