A fuel cell according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate-shaped metal porous body having a framework of a three-dimensional network structure as a gas diffusion layer. The framework is made of metal or alloy. In the metal porous body, a ratio of an average pore diameter in a direction parallel to a gas flow direction to an average pore diameter in a direction perpendicular to the gas flow direction is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than or equal to 2.5.

A porous metal body including a skeleton having a three-dimensional mesh-like structure, the porous metal body having a plate-like overall shape. The skeleton has a hollow structure and includes a primary metal layer and at least one of a first microporous layer and a second microporous layer. The primary metal layer is composed of nickel or a nickel alloy. The first microporous layer contains nickel and chromium and is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the primary metal layer. The second microporous layer contains nickel and chromium and is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the primary metal layer, the inner peripheral surface facing the hollow space of the skeleton.

The invention relates to methods for producing supported catalysts, comprising: providing a metal foam element A made of nickel; applying an aluminum-containing powder MP to metal foam element A, such that metal foam element AX is obtained; thermally treating metal foam element AX in order to form an alloy between metal foam element A and the aluminum-containing powder MP, such that metal foam element B is obtained; oxidatively treating metal foam element B, such that metal foam element C is obtained; and applying a catalytically active layer, comprising at least one carrier oxide and at least one catalytically active component, to at least one part of the surface of metal foam element C, such that a supported catalyst is obtained. The invention also relates to the supported catalysts obtained according to the method, and to the use thereof in chemical transformations.

A metal porous material according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a metal porous material in sheet form that includes a frame having a three-dimensional network configuration, wherein the frame includes an alloy including at least nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr), the frame 11 is a solid solution with iron (Fe), the frame includes a chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2O.sub.3) layer as an outermost layer and includes a chromium carbide layer located under the chromium oxide layer, the chromium oxide layer has a thickness not less than 0.1 μm and not more than 3 μm, and the chromium carbide layer has a thickness not less than 0.1 μm and not more than 1 μm.

A method of providing an article having a set of directional channels, including a first directional channel, therein is described. The method comprises preparing a mixture including particles comprising a first material and a first binding agent. The method comprises providing an article precursor by surrounding a pattern comprising a second material with the mixture. The method comprises heating the article precursor thereby coalescing the particles to provide the article. The method comprises removing the pattern by reacting the second material to form a gaseous product, thereby providing the set of directional channels in the article, wherein the set of directional channels corresponds with the removed pattern. Such an article is also described.

The present invention relates to processes for producing metal foam bodies, in which metal-containing powders that may comprise aluminium and chromium or molybdenum are applied to metal foam bodies that may comprise nickel, cobalt, copper and iron and then treated thermally, wherein the highest temperature in the thermal treatment of the metal foam bodies is in the range from 680 to 715° C., and wherein the total duration of the thermal treatment within the temperature range from 680 to 715° C. is between 5 and 240 seconds. Following this method of thermal treatment can achieve alloy formation at the contact surface between metal foam body and metal-containing powder, but simultaneously leave unalloyed regions within the metal foam. The present invention further comprises processes comprising the treatment of the alloyed metal foam bodies with basic solution. The present invention further comprises the metal foam bodies obtainable by these processes, which find use, for example, as support and structure components and in catalyst technology.

According to the present invention, there are provided processes for preparing a porous composite material comprising a metal and a two-dimensional nanomaterial. In one aspect, the processes comprise the steps of: providing a powder comprising metal particles; heating the powder such that the metal particles fuse to form a porous scaffold; and forming a two-dimensional nanomaterial on a surface of the porous scaffold by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Also provided are materials obtainable by the present processes, and products comprising said materials.

A fuel cell according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate-shaped metal porous body having a framework of a three-dimensional network structure as a gas diffusion layer. The framework is made of metal or alloy. In the metal porous body, a ratio of an average pore diameter in a direction parallel to a gas flow direction to an average pore diameter in a direction perpendicular to the gas flow direction is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than or equal to 2.5.

A fuel cell according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate-shaped metal porous body having a framework of a three-dimensional network structure as a gas diffusion layer. The framework is made of metal or alloy. In the metal porous body, a ratio of an average pore diameter in a direction parallel to a gas flow direction to an average pore diameter in a direction perpendicular to the gas flow direction is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than or equal to 2.5.

A metal porous body having a frame of a three-dimensional network structure, the frame being formed of a plurality of bone members connected to each other, the plurality of bone members defining openings in a surface of the metal porous body, the plurality of bone members defining voids inside the metal porous body, the openings and the voids communicating with each other, a porosity being from 1 volume % to 55 volume %, a density being from 3 g/cm.sup.3 to 10 g/cm.sup.3.