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.

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 power source includes a container, a fuel cell stack disposed within the container, the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side, a hydrogen producing fuel disposed within the container and positioned to provide hydrogen to anode side of the fuel cell stack, and a pump disposed within the hydrogen producing fuel to circulate water vapor through the hydrogen producing fuel. A capacitor may be coupled to receive electricity generated by the fuel cell stack.

A power source includes a container, a fuel cell stack disposed within the container, the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side, a hydrogen producing fuel disposed within the container and positioned to provide hydrogen to anode side of the fuel cell stack, and a pump disposed within the hydrogen producing fuel to circulate water vapor through the hydrogen producing fuel. A capacitor may be coupled to receive electricity generated by the fuel cell stack.

A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, an anode gas diffusion layer, and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a pair of separators for clamping a laminate made up of the membrane electrode assembly, the anode gas diffusion layer and cathode gas diffusion layer, and a frame that is formed from thermosetting resin and disposed between the separators to surround a periphery of the laminate. At least one of the anode gas diffusion layer and cathode gas diffusion layer is formed from a composite of thermoplastic resin and conductive particles, and includes a protrusion that protrudes beyond a level of a surface of the frame which faces one of the pair of separators in a state that the laminate is not clamped between the separators under a predetermined pressure. The one of the separators presses the protrusion and gets the at least one of the gas diffusion layers to be deformed and put into contact with the frame in a state that the laminate is clamped between the separators under the predetermined pressure.

The present disclosure relates to a gas diffusion layer structure for a unit cell of a fuel cell, the gas diffusion layer structure includes a gas diffusion layer disposed between a catalyst layer and a separator of the unit cell of the fuel cell, in which the gas diffusion layer includes a microporous layer positioned adjacent to the catalyst layer, and a base layer positioned between the microporous layer and the separator, in which the base layer includes: a microporous layer adjacent region disposed adjacent to the microporous layer, and a gas channel adjacent region disposed adjacent to the separator, and in which the gas diffusion layer is pressed so that a solid volume fraction of the gas channel adjacent region and the microporous layer adjacent region increases to a target solid volume fraction.

A single cell C includes a membrane electrode assembly M in which an electrolyte membrane 1 is interposed between a pair of electrode layers 2, 3, and a pair of separators 4 that form gas channels C between the pair of separators 4 and the membrane electrode assembly M, wherein the electrode layers 2, 3 include first gas diffusion layers 2B, 3B of a porous material disposed at the side facing the electrolyte membrane 1 and second gas diffusion layers 2C, 3C that are composed of a metal porous body having arrayed many holes K, and a part of the first gas diffusion layers 2B, 3B penetrates the holes K of the second gas diffusion layers 2C, 3C to form protrusions T. Accordingly, the surface of the electrode layers 2, 3 has a fine uneven structure. As a result, an improvement in liquid water discharging function and an improvement in power generating function were achieved at the same time.

Microbial fuel cells capable of generating energy from an organic-based fuel are described. The microbial fuel cells can include an anode component, a cathode component, and a separator component selected to reduce spacing between the anode and the cathode thereby improving performance of the microbial fuel cell. Cathode components including particular components that improve the lifetime, performance, and production of the cathode component at reduced cost also are described, as well as a method of using the microbial fuel cells.