A clad porous metal substrate for use in a metal-supported electrochemical cell, wherein a metal support layer of defined porosity is clad on top and bottom sides with a layer containing a metal and/or a metal oxide. A metal-supported electrochemical half-cell and a metal-supported electrochemical cell are also described.

Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

An electrolysis element for alkaline water electrolysis includes: an electroconductive separating wall including a first face and a second face; an anode for generating oxygen; a cathode for generating hydrogen; a first connecting means fixing the anode to the separating wall such that the anode faces the first face of the separating wall at a first distance, and electrically connecting the anode to the separating wall; an electroconductive elastic body supporting the cathode; and a cathode current collector supporting the elastic body, the cathode current collector being fixed to the separating wall, to face the second face of the separating wall at a second distance, and being electrically connected to the separating wall, the first connecting means including: an electroconductive bolt including at least a shaft, wherein the anode is removably fixed to the separating wall by means of the electroconductive bolt.

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolytic cell assembly, and a method for making the assembly, are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC), including forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution including hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites, forming the functionalized ZTC. The method further includes incorporating the functionalized ZTC into electrodes, forming a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and forming the PEM electrolytic cell assembly. The method further includes coupling the PEM electrolytic cell assembly to a heat source.

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolytic cell assembly, and a method for making the assembly, are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC), including forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution including hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites, forming the functionalized ZTC. The method further includes incorporating the functionalized ZTC into electrodes, forming a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and forming the PEM electrolytic cell assembly. The method further includes coupling the PEM electrolytic cell assembly to a heat source.

Solid oxide electrolytic cell assembly (SOEC) and methods for making SOECs are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC). The functionalized ZTC is formed by forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution including hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites. In the method, the functionalized ZTC is incorporated into electrodes by forming a mixture of the functionalized ZTC with a calcined solid oxide electrolyte, and calcining the mixture. The method includes forming an electrode assembly, forming the SO electrolytic cell assembly, and coupling the SO electrolytic cell assembly to a heat source.

Solid oxide electrolytic cell assembly (SOEC) and methods for making SOECs are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC). The functionalized ZTC is formed by forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution including hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites. In the method, the functionalized ZTC is incorporated into electrodes by forming a mixture of the functionalized ZTC with a calcined solid oxide electrolyte, and calcining the mixture. The method includes forming an electrode assembly, forming the SO electrolytic cell assembly, and coupling the SO electrolytic cell assembly to a heat source.

A textile can be configured as a spacer between a housing or a supporting structure and an electrode or a substructure of an electrode of a zero-gap electrolytic cell. The textile may comprise a mechanical connection means composed of an elastic polymeric material and may comprise an electrical connection means different from the mechanical connection means. A zero-gap electrolytic cell can be furnished with such a textile. Further, a method for producing such a zero-gap electrolytic cell may be characterized in that at least one ply of a textile is placed into an anode tank or cathode tank, an anode or cathode electrode is disposed on the at least one ply of the textile, an ion exchange membrane is placed onto this electrode, and a cathode electrode or anode electrode connected to a cathode tank or anode tank, respectively, is disposed on the ion exchange membrane.

A textile can be configured as a spacer between a housing or a supporting structure and an electrode or a substructure of an electrode of a zero-gap electrolytic cell. The textile may comprise a mechanical connection means composed of an elastic polymeric material and may comprise an electrical connection means different from the mechanical connection means. A zero-gap electrolytic cell can be furnished with such a textile. Further, a method for producing such a zero-gap electrolytic cell may be characterized in that at least one ply of a textile is placed into an anode tank or cathode tank, an anode or cathode electrode is disposed on the at least one ply of the textile, an ion exchange membrane is placed onto this electrode, and a cathode electrode or anode electrode connected to a cathode tank or anode tank, respectively, is disposed on the ion exchange membrane.