Apparatuses and methods for performing coupled chemical and electrochemical reactions are disclosed. An electrochemical cell has a first reaction chamber configured to perform a chemical reaction and an anode chamber configured to perform an electrochemical reaction. The first reaction chamber and the anode chamber are separated by a first membrane. The first membrane acts as a cathode of the cell, a hydrogen-selective layer and a catalyst. The first membrane may comprise a layer of palladium or a palladium alloy. An ion exchange membrane separates the first membrane and the anode chamber. The chemical and electrochemical reactions may respectively be hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.

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 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 membrane electrode assembly includes an electrode consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide, lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite complex oxide, lanthanum strontium ferrite complex oxide, and lanthanum nickel ferrite complex oxide or consisting of a composite of the compound and an electrolyte material, and a first solid electrolyte membrane represented by a composition formula of BaZr.sub.1-xln.sub.xO.sub.3−δ (0<x<1). The electrode is in contact with the first solid electrolyte membrane.

A water electrolyzer comprising: a membrane having first and second opposed major surfaces, a thickness extending between the first and second major surfaces; a cathode comprising a first catalyst on the first major surface of the membrane; and an anode comprising a second catalyst on the second major surface of the membrane, wherein the membrane, if planar, has a length direction, an average length, a width direction, an average width, a thickness direction, and an average thickness, wherein the average length and the average width are each greater than the average thickness, wherein the average width is no greater than the average length, wherein the average thickness is defined between first and second major surfaces of the membrane, wherein the average length, the average width, and the average thickness define a membrane volume, wherein has the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction are each perpendicular to each other, wherein the membrane volume comprises at least one of metallic Pt or Pt oxide, wherein the membrane volume comprises at least 5 of alternating first and second regions across at least one plane in the membrane, wherein the first region has a first concentration within a 100 micrometer.sup.3 cube volume collectively of metallic Pt and Pt oxide that is at least 0.1 microgram/cm3, wherein the second region has a second concentration within a 100 micrometer.sup.3 cube volume collectively of metallic Pt and Pt oxide that is not greater than 0.01 microgram/cm.sup.3, and wherein the first concentration is at least 10 times greater than the second concentration.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate anion exchange membrane (cement paste) with an ionic conductivity of the order of 10.sup.−3 S/cm. The membrane can be formulated by mixing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and water with the cement to water ratio of 1:0.45. After initial setting time, the membrane undergoes curing in 7% calcium chloride solution and the Cl.sup.− ions in the membrane is converted to OH.sup.− form by immersing into saturated Ca(OH).sub.2 solution with pH 14 and it has been washed to remove the excess alkali. This membrane has high mechanical strength (Ultimate Tensile Strength: 6.3 MPa) and does not deteriorate even at high temperature (up to 450° C.) and alkaline atmosphere (pH 11.5-14). Also disclosed is a method of producing in-situ formation of membrane electrode assembly. This invention encompasses a process for producing and using the membrane in water electrolysis and fuel cell.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate anion exchange membrane (cement paste) with an ionic conductivity of the order of 10.sup.−3 S/cm. The membrane can be formulated by mixing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and water with the cement to water ratio of 1:0.45. After initial setting time, the membrane undergoes curing in 7% calcium chloride solution and the Cl.sup.− ions in the membrane is converted to OH.sup.− form by immersing into saturated Ca(OH).sub.2 solution with pH 14 and it has been washed to remove the excess alkali. This membrane has high mechanical strength (Ultimate Tensile Strength: 6.3 MPa) and does not deteriorate even at high temperature (up to 450° C.) and alkaline atmosphere (pH 11.5-14). Also disclosed is a method of producing in-situ formation of membrane electrode assembly. This invention encompasses a process for producing and using the membrane in water electrolysis and fuel cell.

Electrochemical device using thin micro-porous metal sheets. The porous metal sheet may have a thickness less than 200 μm, provides three-dimensional networked pore structures of pore sizes in the range of 2.0 nm to 5.0 μm, and is electrically conductive. The micro-porous metal sheet is used for positively and/or negatively-charged electrodes by providing large specific contact surface area of reactants/electron. Nano-sized catalyst or features can be added inside pores of the porous metal sheet of pore sizes at sub- and micrometer scale to enhance the reaction activity and capacity. Micro-porous ceramic materials may be coated on the porous metal sheet at a thickness of less than 40 μm to enhance the functionality of the porous metal sheet and may function as a membrane separator. The electrochemical device may be used for decomposing molecules and for synthesis of molecules such as synthesis of ammonia from water and nitrogen molecules.

Electrochemical device using thin micro-porous metal sheets. The porous metal sheet may have a thickness less than 200 μm, provides three-dimensional networked pore structures of pore sizes in the range of 2.0 nm to 5.0 μm, and is electrically conductive. The micro-porous metal sheet is used for positively and/or negatively-charged electrodes by providing large specific contact surface area of reactants/electron. Nano-sized catalyst or features can be added inside pores of the porous metal sheet of pore sizes at sub- and micrometer scale to enhance the reaction activity and capacity. Micro-porous ceramic materials may be coated on the porous metal sheet at a thickness of less than 40 μm to enhance the functionality of the porous metal sheet and may function as a membrane separator. The electrochemical device may be used for decomposing molecules and for synthesis of molecules such as synthesis of ammonia from water and nitrogen molecules.

Method of manufacturing of a membrane with surface fiber structure, in particular for use in an electrolyzer or fuel cell, by inserting the polymer membrane into the vacuum chamber equipped with a magnetron sputtering system with a cerium oxide target in which an atmosphere of O.sub.2 and inert gas is formed and igniting the plasma which leads to simultaneous plasma etching of the membrane surface and deposition of cerium oxide onto the surface of etched membrane resulting in formation of fibers. The membrane is made of polymer and on at least one of its sides features porous surface made of fibers, the cross-sectional dimensions of which are lower than their length and which are integral and inseparable part of membrane body.