The presently disclosed subject matter relates to devices, systems, and methods for fabricating a solid polymer electrolyte electrode assembly are provided. One or more electrode for a solid polymer electrolyte electrode assembly includes a porous substrate configured as a liquid/gas diffusion layer and an ionomer-free catalyst coated on the substrate.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to devices, systems, and methods for fabricating a solid polymer electrolyte electrode assembly are provided. One or more electrode for a solid polymer electrolyte electrode assembly includes a porous substrate configured as a liquid/gas diffusion layer and an ionomer-free catalyst coated on the substrate.

A process for preparing a catalytic material of an electrode for electrochemical reduction reactions, said material comprising an active phase based on at least one group VIB metal and an electrically conductive support, which process is carried out according to at least the following steps:

a) bringing water into contact with said electrically conductive support,
b) bringing said wet support into contact with at least one metallic acid hydrate comprising at least one group VIB metal, of which the melting point of said metallic acid hydrate is between 20° C. and 100° C., the weight ratio of said metallic acid to said electrically conductive support being between 0.1 and 4,
c) heating, with stirring, to a temperature between the melting point of said metallic acid hydrate and 100° C.,
d) carrying out a sulfurization step at a temperature of between 100° C. and 600° C.

A process for preparing a catalytic material of an electrode for electrochemical reduction reactions, said material comprising an active phase based on at least one group VIB metal and an electrically conductive support, which process is carried out according to at least the following steps:

a) bringing water into contact with said electrically conductive support,
b) bringing said wet support into contact with at least one metallic acid hydrate comprising at least one group VIB metal, of which the melting point of said metallic acid hydrate is between 20° C. and 100° C., the weight ratio of said metallic acid to said electrically conductive support being between 0.1 and 4,
c) heating, with stirring, to a temperature between the melting point of said metallic acid hydrate and 100° C.,
d) carrying out a sulfurization step at a temperature of between 100° C. and 600° C.

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.

An electrochemical method includes performing anodic halogenation of Cu foils, performing subsequent oxide-formation in a KHCO.sub.3 electrolyte, and performing an electroreduction in neutral KHCO.sub.3 to generate a copper catalyst.

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.

The electrode catalyst ink includes a catalyst including a layered double hydroxide, an organic polymer, and a solvent. The solvent includes a first solvent, a second solvent, and a third solvent. The third solvent has a boiling point higher than a boiling point of the first solvent and higher than a boiling point of the second solvent. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a1 [MPa.sup.1/2] between the third solvent and the catalyst and the Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a2 [MPa.sup.1/2] between the third solvent and the organic polymer satisfy a relationship of 2.08R.sub.a1−16.0≤R.sub.a2≤2.08R.sub.a1−13.5.

The electrode catalyst ink includes a catalyst including a layered double hydroxide, an organic polymer, and a solvent. The solvent includes a first solvent, a second solvent, and a third solvent. The third solvent has a boiling point higher than a boiling point of the first solvent and higher than a boiling point of the second solvent. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a1 [MPa.sup.1/2] between the third solvent and the catalyst and the Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a2 [MPa.sup.1/2] between the third solvent and the organic polymer satisfy a relationship of 2.08R.sub.a1−16.0≤R.sub.a2≤2.08R.sub.a1−13.5.