A syngas generation system that combines a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and a carbon gasification unit is described. On the cathode side of the SOEC, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O are electrochemically converted to syngas. At the anode side of the system, a second stream of syngas is produced through a carbon gasification process in which solid carbon is reacted with H.sub.2O/CO.sub.2. Oxygen ion transported across the SOEC electrolyte reacts at the anode with a portion of the syngas produced in the gasification process. This reaction product (H.sub.2O/CO.sub.2) can be fed back to the gasification unit.

A high pressure water electrolysis device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode power supplying body, a cathode power supplying body, an anode separator, a cathode separator, a cathode chamber, a seal member, and a protective sheet member. The protective sheet member is interposed between the electrolyte membrane and the anode power supplying body and includes a frame part and a through hole formation part. The frame part faces the seal member as a seal receiving part in a stacking direction. The through hole formation part is provided inwardly of the frame part. In the through hole formation part, a plurality of through holes are provided. The through hole formation part has the plurality of through holes from an inner side to outer side of a range that faces an anode catalyst part in the stacking direction.

An oxygen pump can produce high-purity high-pressure oxygen. Oxygen ions (O.sup.2−) are electrochemically pumped through a multi-stage electrolysis stack of cells. Each cell includes an oxygen-ion conducting solid-state electrolyte between cathode and anode sides. Oxygen dissociates into the ions at the cathode side. The ions migrate across the electrolyte and recombine at the anode side. An insulator is between adjacent cells to electrically isolate each individual cell. Each cell receives a similar volt potential. Recombined oxygen from a previous stage can diffuse through the insulator to reach the cathode side of the next stage. Each successive stage similarly incrementally pressurizes the oxygen to produce a final elevated pressure.

A system to prepare an antimicrobial solution by the electrolysis of brine is presented where the antimicrobial solution is a solution comprising HOCl that contains a HOCl concentration in excess of 500 ppm or more at a pH of 6 to 6.8 with a low residual salt concentration and displays a stability in excess of 60 days and can have a HOCl concentration in excess of 450 for 180 days. The system includes an electrolysis cell that is improved by a superior anode and ceramic membrane such that when employed with a DC power supply controlled by a microprocessor and a controlled brine concentration provided to the cell at ambient temperature at a controlled rate, delivers a fluid that is continuously monitored by a pH probe and an ORP probe for input to the microprocessor.

According to one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode and an electrolytic membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode is formed of an integral solid conductive plate and includes a first surface in contact with the electrolytic membrane and a second surface apart from the first surface in a thickness direction. The at least one of the anode and the cathode includes a plurality of first pores opened in the first surface and a plurality of second pores opened in the second surface, the second pores communicating with a part of the first pores. The first pores are smaller than the second pores, and the concentration of pores in the first surface is higher than that in the second surface.

A catalyst comprising particles of iridium oxide and a metal oxide (M oxide), wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of a Group 4 metal oxide, a Group 5 metal oxide, a Group 7 metal oxide and antimony oxide, wherein the catalyst is prepared by subjecting a precursor mixture to flame spray pyrolysis, wherein the precursor mixture comprises a solvent, an iridium oxide precursor and a metal oxide precursor is disclosed. The catalyst has particular use in catalysing the oxygen evolution reaction.

This invention is an apparatus and a method for continuously generating a hydride gas of M.sub.1 which is substantially free of oxygen in a divided electrochemical cell. An impermeable partition or a combination of an impermeable partition and a porous diaphragm can be used to divide the electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein the cathode chamber has a cathode comprising M.sub.1, the anode chamber has an anode comprising M.sub.2 and is capable of generating oxygen, an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising a hydroxide M.sub.3OH partially filling the divided electrochemical cell. Hydride gas generated in the cathode chamber and oxygen generated in the anode chamber are removed through independent outlets. M.sub.1 can be selenium, phosphorous, silicon, metal or metal alloy, M.sub.2 is metal or metal alloy suitable for anionic oxygen generation, and M.sub.3 is NH.sub.4 or an alkali or alkaline earth metal.

An electrochemical system includes an electrochemical compressor through which a working fluid that includes a component that primarily acts as an electrochemically-active component flows; a sealed vessel in which the electrochemical compressor is housed; an inlet conduit for passing working fluid into the vessel; and an outlet conduit for passing fluid out of the vessel. The working fluid that leaks from the electrochemical compressor is contained within the vessel.

This disclosure relates to photocatalytic polyoxometalate compositions of tungstovanadates and uses as water oxidation catalysts. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to compositions comprising water, a complex of a tetra-metal oxide cluster and VW.sub.9O.sub.34 ligands, and a photosensitizer. Typically, the metal oxide cluster is Co. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to electrodes and other devices comprising water oxidation catalysts disclosed herein and uses in generating fuels and electrical power from solar energy.

The invention relates to an electrolytic process for preparation of metal carboxylate complex comprising placing a semi-permeable membrane (18) between the electrodes in order to isolate the same. This membrane (18) prevents the migration of the metal ions from the anode to the cathode, thus increasing the metal ion concentration in the anolyte, leading to highly increased and faster formation of metal carboxylate complex.