Methods for producing hydrogen from ammonia are described. The methods involve the use of a two-stage hydrogen PSA configuration. The effluent stream from the ammonia cracking reaction zone is sent to the first hydrogen PSA unit where it is separated into a high purity, high-pressure hydrogen stream and a low-pressure tail gas stream. The high-pressure hydrogen stream can be recovered. The low-pressure tail gas stream is compressed and sent to the second hydrogen PSA unit where it is separated into a second high-pressure stream and a second low-pressure tail gas stream. The second high-pressure hydrogen stream can be recycled to the first hydrogen PSA unit for further separation.

Disclosed are metal nitride photoctalyst particles and/or metal oxynitride photocatalyst particles having high dispersibility. The metal nitride photoctalyst particles and/or metal oxynitride photocatalyst particles having high dispersibility can be obtained by containing metal nitride photoctalyst particles and/or metal oxynitride photocatalyst particles, which are capable of splitting water under visible light irradiation, and a phosphoric acid polymer that is adsorbed on the surface of the particles. Further, because these particles have high photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, splitting water by using these particles can generate hydrogen and/or oxygen with high efficiency.

A structured catalyst for catalyzing an endothermic reaction of a feed gas to convert it to a product gas Including at least one macroscopic structure of an electrically conductive material and at least one connector attached to the at least one macroscopic structure, wherein the macroscopic structure supports a catalytically active material.

A process for oxidizing water using hydrated cobalt molybdenum is disclosed. A plurality of hydrated cobalt molybdenum nanoparticles are supported on an electrode and are able to catalytically interact with water molecules generating oxygen. The catalyst can be used as part of an electrochemical or photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

The present specification discloses a membrane reactor comprising a reaction region; a permeate region; and a composite membrane disposed at a boundary of the reaction region and the permeate region, wherein the reaction region comprises a bed filled with a catalyst for dehydrogenation reaction, wherein the composite membrane comprises a support layer including a metal with a body-centered-cubic (BCC) crystal structure, and a catalyst layer including a palladium (Pd) or a palladium alloy formed onto the support layer, wherein ammonia (NH.sub.3) is supplied to the reaction region, the ammonia is converted into hydrogen (H.sub.2) by the dehydrogenation reaction in the presence of the catalyst for dehydrogenation reaction, and the hydrogen permeates the composite membrane and is emitted from the membrane reactor through the permeate region.

Photocatalysts and methods of using photocatalysts for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water are disclosed. The photocatalysts include an iodide modified photoactive material having an electrically conductive material attached to the iodide ions.

A method of generating electricity with a fuel cell includes a phase in which the cell is primed; and a phase in which the cell functions at a stable rate, during which the cell, fed with a hydrogenated gas, generates electricity and heat. In order to prime the cell, it is fed with a hydrogenated gas including at least 70 vol. % hydrogen, generated by self-sustaining combustion of at least one hydrogenated gas-generating solid pyrotechnic charge; and while it is operating at a stable rate, the cell is fed with a hydrogenated gas containing at least 85 vol. % hydrogen, generated by thermal decomposition of at least one hydrogenated gas-generating solid pyrotechnic charge; a portion of the heat produced by the operating cell being transferred to the at least one solid charge in order to start and maintain the thermal decomposition thereof.

A method of generating electricity with a fuel cell includes a phase in which the cell is primed; and a phase in which the cell functions at a stable rate, during which the cell, fed with a hydrogenated gas, generates electricity and heat. In order to prime the cell, it is fed with a hydrogenated gas including at least 70 vol. % hydrogen, generated by self-sustaining combustion of at least one hydrogenated gas-generating solid pyrotechnic charge; and while it is operating at a stable rate, the cell is fed with a hydrogenated gas containing at least 85 vol. % hydrogen, generated by thermal decomposition of at least one hydrogenated gas-generating solid pyrotechnic charge; a portion of the heat produced by the operating cell being transferred to the at least one solid charge in order to start and maintain the thermal decomposition thereof.

Electrodes useful in dye sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells provide a coreshell nanoparticle having a chromophore and a catalyst, or a chromophore-catalyst assembly, linked to the shell material. Optionally, an overlayer stabilizes the chromophore or chromophore-catalyst assembly on the shell material. In some embodiments, the core material comprises tin oxide; the shell material comprises titanium dioxide; the chromophore-catalyst assembly includes [(PO.sub.3H.sub.2).sub.2bpy).sub.2Ru(4-Mebpy-4′-bimpy)Ru(tpy) (OH.sub.2)].sup.4+, and the overlayer comprises aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide.

Disclosed herein is a solar thermochemical reactor comprising an outer member, an inner member disposed within an outer member, wherein the outer member surrounds the inner member and wherein the outer member has an aperture for receiving solar radiation and wherein an inner cavity and an outer cavity are formed by the inner member and outer member and a reactive material capable of being magnetically stabilized wherein the reactive material is disposed in the outer cavity between the inner member and the outer member.