A method of making an electrically conductive composite includes applying graphene oxide (27) to at least one non-conductive porous substrate (25) and then reducing the graphene oxide (27) to graphene via an electrochemical reaction. An electrochemical cell (10) for causing a reaction that produces an electrically conductive composite includes a first electrode (13), a second electrode (15), an ion conductive medium (17), electrical current in communication with the first electrode, and an optional third electrode having a known electrode potential. The first electrode (13) contains at least one layered electrocatalyst, which includes at least one non-conductive porous substrate (25) coated with graphene oxide (27) and at least a first and second active metal layer (29a, 29b) comprising a conductive metal in contact with the non-conductive porous substrate (25) coated with graphene oxide (27).

Provided are methods and systems for electrochemical reduction of carbon sources including, for example, carbon dioxide and carbonates. The methods and systems use a catalyst. The catalyst may comprise metals such as Fe (iron), and Ti (titanium), Ni (nickel), and Zn (zinc) and/or oxides thereof. The metals may be disposed in an aluminosilicate. The catalyst may be a porous volcanic tuff based material. The methods and systems can be used to produce various carbon-source, reduction products.

A fuel-saving device includes an oxygen generator adapted for producing oxygen, an air intake component adapted for inhaling air, and a conveyor comprising an output terminal adapted for outputting gas, an oxygen terminal connected with the oxygen generator, an air terminal connected with the air intake component, and a connector connecting the output terminal, the oxygen terminal and the air terminal, so as to allow oxygen from the oxygen generator and air from the air intake component to be mixed and output through the output terminal.

A method of treating a carbon electrode includes heat treating a carbon-based electrode in an environment that is above approximately 325 C. and that includes an oxidizing gas, and prior to use of the carbon-based electrode in an electro-chemical battery device, soaking the carbon-based electrode in an oxidizer solution.

An electrode that comprises a nanostructured material that comprises pyrolyzed date palm leaves that are obtained from a pyrolysis of an agro-waste containing date palm leaves in an inert gas and in a temperature range of 800 to 1600 C., an electrochemical cell thereof, and a method of determining a hydroquinone concentration in a hydroquinone-containing solution with the electrochemical cell. Various combinations of embodiments are also provided.

An electrode that comprises a nanostructured material that comprises pyrolyzed date palm leaves that are obtained from a pyrolysis of an agro-waste containing date palm leaves in an inert gas and in a temperature range of 800 to 1600 C., an electrochemical cell thereof, and a method of determining a hydroquinone concentration in a hydroquinone-containing solution with the electrochemical cell. Various combinations of embodiments are also provided.

A carbon material has at least either a peak related to diamond bonds, or a peak related to diamond-like bonds, appearing in a range of 1250 to 1400 cm.sup.1 in a spectrum measured by Raman scattering spectrometry, and a full width at half maximum of a maximum peak, or each of full widths at half maximum of the maximum peak and a second largest peak, among peaks appearing in the range of 1250 to 1400 cm.sup.1, has a signal less than 100 cm.sup.1.

Some examples of a method for manufacturing an electrode material for electrolytic hydrogen generation are described. Tungsten salt and nickel salt are mixed in a determined molar ratio on a carbon support by effectively controlling synthesis temperature and composition. Water and adsorbed oxygen, produced by mixing the tungsten salt and nickel salt are removed. Then, methane gas is flowed over the mixture resulting in the electrode material. The electrode material is suitable for use as a catalyst in electrolytic hydrogen generation processes, for example, at an industrial scale, to produce large quantities of hydrogen.

An electrode that comprises a nanostructured material that comprises pyrolyzed date palm leaves that are obtained from a pyrolysis of an agro-waste containing date palm leaves in an inert gas and in a temperature range of 800 to 1600 C., an electrochemical cell thereof, and a method of determining a hydroquinone concentration in a hydroquinone-containing solution with the electrochemical cell. Various combinations of embodiments are also provided.

A carboxylic acid-containing composition, which composition contains an aldehyde, is purified in a process, which process comprises introducing the carboxylic acid-containing composition and an aqueous electrolyte into an electrolytic cell comprising electrodes; electrochemically oxidizing the aldehyde in the electrolytic cell to obtain an electrochemically oxidized product composition comprising a carboxylic acid derived from the aldehyde; and, optionally, separating carboxylic acid from the electrochemically oxidized product composition.