A novel and environmentally preferable method is provided for preparing solid electrolyte particles capable of making dense, flexible, Li.sup.+ conducting electrolyte thin films. Methods are also provided for using the solid electrolyte particles and/or thin films in manufacturing safer and more efficient lithium-based batteries. In particular, the method uses inorganic precursors instead of using organic precursors in preparing an aerosol and then convert the aerosol to solid powders to provide the solid electrolyte particles. The solid electrolyte particles prepared have a cubic polymorph and have a desired particle size range, and are capable of making a solid electrolyte film with a thickness less than 50 μm.

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 unit cell includes an air inlet/outlet that is formed on a frame unit rather than being installed in a fuel electrode (anode) to simplify a sealing process, and accordingly, a continuous process using a tape casting technique may be performed. In addition, an electrolyte material that is in contact with an air electrode (cathode) in the frame unit is optimized to improve ion conductivity and a porosity of an upper layer material of the fuel electrode unit is optimized to increase fuel diffusion from a gas channel to an electrolyte layer. In addition, a sealing process performed inside the unit cell or between the unit cells of the stack is stabilized and strongly maintained, and thus a fuel cell using the unit cell and the stack disclosed herein may have excellent economic feasibility and high energy efficiency.

A garnet-type ion-conducting oxide configured to inhibit lithium carbonate formation on the surface of crystal particles thereof, and a method for producing an oxide electrolyte sintered body using the garnet-type ion-conducting oxide. The garnet-type ion-conducting oxide represented by a general formula (Li.sub.x-3y-z, E.sub.y, H.sub.z)L.sub.αM.sub.βO.sub.γ (where E is at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Fe and Si; L is at least one kind of element selected from an alkaline-earth metal and a lanthanoid element: M is at least one kind of element selected from a transition element which be six-coordinated with oxygen and typical elements in groups 12 to 15 of the periodic table; 3≤x−3y−z≤; 0≤y≤0.22; C≤z≤2.8; 2.5≤α≤3.5; 1.5≤≈≤2.5; and 11≤γ≤13), wherein a half-width of a diffraction peak which has a highest intensity and which is observed at a diffraction angle (2θ) in a range of from 29° to 32° as a result of X-ray diffraction measurement using CuKα radiation, is 0.164° or less.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing an electrode-supported electrochemical half-cell including a step consisting in subjecting a green electrode layer on which a precursor gel of the electrolyte or a precursor thereof is deposited to sintering at a temperature of less than or equal to 1350° C.

Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell having a service life of approximately 90,000 hours, a level required to encourage the widespread use of SOFC. The solid oxide fuel cell is provided with a solid electrolyte layer, an oxygen electrode layer provided on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode layer provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer. The oxygen electrode layer is made from a material containing iron or manganese, and the solid electrolyte layer contains an yttria-stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte material having a lanthanoid oxide dissolved therein.

A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrode consisting of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide or consisting of a composite of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide and an electrolyte material, and a first solid electrolyte membrane represented by a composition formula of BaZr.sub.1-xYb.sub.xO.sub.3-δ (0<x<1). The electrode is in contact with the first solid electrolyte membrane.

The invention relates to a fuel cell having superior durability by suppressing a reaction between a component contained in a solid electrolyte and an oxygen-side electrode during a long-period operation, a fuel cell stack and a fuel cell apparatus using thereof. A fuel cell (10) includes a solid electrolyte (9) containing Zr, an intermediate layer (4) and an oxygen-side electrode (1) that are disposed in this order on one surface of the solid electrolyte (9), and a fuel-side electrode (7) disposed on another surface opposed to the oxygen-side electrode (1) of the solid electrolyte (9). The intermediate layer (4) includes a surface layer region (4a) that contains Zr and is on a side of the solid electrolyte (9), and another region (4b) except the surface layer region (4a) that does not contain Zr. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a reaction between Zr and the oxygen-side electrode (1) and suppress power generation performance degradation of the fuel cell (10).

A storage medium and an inert material, either integrated into the storage medium or existing as a separate phase in the storage medium, form a storage structure. The inert material at least partially contains or is formed by a polymorphous inert material. The polymorphous inert material has at least one polymorphous phase transition in the range between ambient temperature and maximum operating temperature of the solid electrolyte battery. The polymorphous phase transition induces a distortion of the lattice structure of the inert material, thus causing a change in the specific volume and acting on the surrounding grains of the storage medium. A mechanical coupling of the stresses triggered by the phase transition of the inert material causes the neighboring grains of the storage medium to break apart, such that new reactive zones become available in the storage medium, thereby regenerating the solid electrolyte battery.

An electrically conductive member of the present disclosure includes a base member containing chromium (Cr), and a first layer provided on a surface of the base member and containing chromium(III) oxide (Cr.sub.2O.sub.3). The first layer also contains titanium (Ti).