An environmental control system employs an electrolysis cell utilizing an anion conducting membrane. A power supply is coupled across the anode and cathode of the electrolysis cell to drive reactions to reduce oxygen and/or carbon dioxide in an output gas flow. A cathode enclosure may be coupled with the electrolysis cell and provide an input gas flow and receive the output gas flow. A first electrolysis cell may be utilized to reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in an output flow that is directed to a second electrolysis cell, that reduces the concentration of oxygen. The oxygen and/or carbon dioxide may be vented from the system and used for an auxiliary purpose. An electrolyte solution may be configured in a loop from a reservoir to the anode, to provide a flow of electrolyte solution to the anode. Moisture from the cathode may be collected and provided to the anode.

An apparatus can include a housing, a plurality of electrochemical devices disposed within the housing, and a heat exchanger disposed within the housing. The heat exchanger can be faced with an oxidant-containing gas outlet surface of at least one of the plurality of electrochemical devices. The electrochemical devices can include a stack of solid oxide fuel cells, a battery, or a solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

One aspect of the invention provides a photoelectrochemical device including at least one electrochemical cell comprising an anode electrode and a cathode electrode; and a photovoltaic module integrated with the at least one electrochemical cell and adapted for converting energy of photons to electrical energy for driving the at least one electrochemical cell to facilitate redox reactions therein.

One aspect of the invention provides a photoelectrochemical device including at least one electrochemical cell comprising an anode electrode and a cathode electrode; and a photovoltaic module integrated with the at least one electrochemical cell and adapted for converting energy of photons to electrical energy for driving the at least one electrochemical cell to facilitate redox reactions therein.

This application relates to new process that utilizes electrodes that incorporate acids that facilitate upgrading of methane and other low molecular weight alkanes to higher order hydrocarbon molecules, such as paraffins, olefins, and aromatics, at temperatures less than 250° C. A primary focus of the invention includes methane conversion to ethylene. The first step of the process includes acid containing electrodes that facilitate the activation of the alkane in the anode layer of the electrochemical reactor. Subsequent steps include the separation of protons from produced longer chain hydrocarbons followed by subsequent electrochemical reduction of the protons to yield hydrogen at the cathode or protons combined with oxygen at the cathode to yield water. The reaction steps in the anode upgrade methane to higher order hydrocarbon products.

Disclosed is a carbon dioxide utilization system capable of recharging and undergoing reactions. The system includes a cathode unit provided with a first aqueous solution accommodated in a first accommodation space, and a cathode at least a part of which is submerged in the first aqueous solution; an anode unit provided with an alkaline second aqueous solution accommodated in a second accommodation space, and a metal anode at least a part of which is submerged in the second aqueous solution; and a connection unit provided with a connection channel connecting the first and second accommodation spaces in open communication, and a porous ion transfer member, disposed in the connection channel, for blocking the movement of the first and second aqueous solutions but allowing the movement of ions.

Disclosed is a carbon dioxide utilization system capable of recharging and undergoing reactions. The system includes a cathode unit provided with a first aqueous solution accommodated in a first accommodation space, and a cathode at least a part of which is submerged in the first aqueous solution; an anode unit provided with an alkaline second aqueous solution accommodated in a second accommodation space, and a metal anode at least a part of which is submerged in the second aqueous solution; and a connection unit provided with a connection channel connecting the first and second accommodation spaces in open communication, and a porous ion transfer member, disposed in the connection channel, for blocking the movement of the first and second aqueous solutions but allowing the movement of ions.

In a solid electrolyte integrated device including a substrate with electrically insulated surfaces, a first lower electrode layer and a second upper electrode layer are electrically connected to each other on a first main surface side, and a first upper electrode layer, the first lower electrode layer, the second upper electrode layer, and a second lower electrode layer transmit ions and/or have ion redox ability, contain a metal or a metal oxide or both of a metal and a metal oxide, and have a permeable portion.

In a solid electrolyte integrated device including a substrate with electrically insulated surfaces, a first lower electrode layer and a second upper electrode layer are electrically connected to each other on a first main surface side, and a first upper electrode layer, the first lower electrode layer, the second upper electrode layer, and a second lower electrode layer transmit ions and/or have ion redox ability, contain a metal or a metal oxide or both of a metal and a metal oxide, and have a permeable portion.

Provided are an electrochemical catalyst and a preparation method therefor. The preparation method for an electrochemical catalyst may comprise the steps of preparing a base metal aqueous solution containing a base metal, hydrothermally synthesizing a base structure containing an oxide of the base metal by using the base metal aqueous solution, and using a heat treatment method for the base structure in a sulfur (S)-containing reactive gas atmosphere, exchanging oxygen (O) on the surface of the base structure with sulfur (S) of the reactive gas to form a catalyst structure which has a core structure containing the oxide of the base metal and a shell structure containing a sulfide of the base metal.