A thermal insulation device includes a first plate, a second plate formed to nest adjacent the first plate with a gap between the first and second plates, a porous material disposed in the gap between the plates, a sealing layer disposed between the first and second plates such that the porous material is sealed from ambient at a pressure less than ambient, and a vapor generating material disposed in the gap.

A direct alcohol fuel cell having an inner housing, and a proton exchange membrane separating an anode section from a cathode section. The anode section contains an anode collection element electrically connected to an anode catalyst that is in diffusive communication with a fuel supply. The cathode section contains a cathode collection element having one or more ventilation holes is electrically connected to a cathode catalyst. An oleophobic filter and/or an anion-exchange membrane is provided, which cathode catalyst via the one or more ventilation holes and the oleophobic filter and/or the anion-exchange membrane is in diffusive communication with a gaseous oxidant. The inner housing has a bottom and walls extending from the bottom to contain the anode section, the PEM and the cathode section, the bottom and/or the walls having holes allowing fluid communication from a fuel supply to the anode section. The fuel cell is suited for microelectronic devices.

A device for producing and/or storing electrical energy (2), characterized in that the device comprises: an anode (4), a cathode (6), a separator (8) allowing for the transfer of at least one compound capable of triggering and/or enabling a production and/or storage of electrical energy (8), arranged between the anode (4) and the cathode (6), and at least one breakable, pierceable, and/or deformable reservoir (10) made of a compound capable of triggering and/or enabling a production and/or a storage of electrical energy, said reservoir (10) having means for bringing said compound and said separator (8) into contact with each other; said means for bringing said compound and said separator (8) into contact with each other being, in particular, means for transferring a liquid.

A fuel cell vehicle comprising: a hydrogen tank which is mounted on the vehicle so as to have a center axis generally parallel to a front/rear direction of the vehicle; a high-voltage electric component which is positioned either forward or rearward of the hydrogen tank and which operates on high voltage; an aftercooler placed between the hydrogen tank and the high-voltage electric component to cool compressed air; and a fuel cell stack which is supplied with the cooled compressed air.

A system for sterilizing a physical space, such as a hotel room. The system generates and distributes heated air to the physical space to elevate the temperature of the space to a level sufficient to achieve a desired sterilization effect of eradicating insects and microoganisms. The system is portable and self-contained. The system includes a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electrical power. An electrical system conditions and stores the electrical power and supplies stored electrical power to the system components and peripherals. System components include a source of hydrogen, a heater, an air distributor, and a filter. Peripherals include a UV light source and an aerosol dispenser. The combination of heat, UV light and aerosol disinfectant effectively eradicates insects, microorganisms, allergens, and odors in the physical space.

A system for sterilizing a physical space, such as a hotel room. The system generates and distributes heated air to the physical space to elevate the temperature of the space to a level sufficient to achieve a desired sterilization effect of eradicating insects and microoganisms. The system is portable and self-contained. The system includes a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electrical power. An electrical system conditions and stores the electrical power and supplies stored electrical power to the system components and peripherals. System components include a source of hydrogen, a heater, an air distributor, and a filter. Peripherals include a UV light source and an aerosol dispenser. The combination of heat, UV light and aerosol disinfectant effectively eradicates insects, microorganisms, allergens, and odors in the physical space.

Example implementations relate to novel battery designs based on the original disclosures of the Parent patent application Ser. No. 15/196,019. In a non-limiting embodiment, a first battery includes a ferroelectric glass electrolyte and a ferrocene Fe(C.sub.5H.sub.5).sub.2 molecule as a redox-mediator-relay material used for plating sodium on a current collector. Novel redox Fe(C.sub.5H.sub.5).sub.2 behavior is shown at a fixed (or a finite) voltage under discharge conditions. The disposed ferroelectric electrolyte material is predisposed to align itself in the direction of the electric field inside the battery, increasing the capacity of the battery. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or to limit the scope of, the invention.

A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, an anode gas diffusion layer, and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a pair of separators for clamping a laminate made up of the membrane electrode assembly, the anode gas diffusion layer and cathode gas diffusion layer, and a frame that is formed from thermosetting resin and disposed between the separators to surround a periphery of the laminate. At least one of the anode gas diffusion layer and cathode gas diffusion layer is formed from a composite of thermoplastic resin and conductive particles, and includes a protrusion that protrudes beyond a level of a surface of the frame which faces one of the pair of separators in a state that the laminate is not clamped between the separators under a predetermined pressure. The one of the separators presses the protrusion and gets the at least one of the gas diffusion layers to be deformed and put into contact with the frame in a state that the laminate is clamped between the separators under the predetermined pressure.

Disclosed is an energy self-sufficient real time bio-signal monitoring and nutrient and/or drug delivery system based on salinity gradient power generation. The energy self-sufficient real time bio-signal monitoring and/or nutrient delivery system based on salinity gradient power generation includes: an electricity generation and nutrient and/or drug delivery module including a reverse electrodialysis device which generates electricity by using a nutrient and/or drug solution and discharge a diluted nutrient solution; and a bio-signal measuring unit inserted into the electricity generation and nutrient and/or drug delivery module and configured to receive electricity from the electricity generation and nutrient and/or drug delivery module and measure a bio-signal.

The invention relates to an electricity generating electrochemical device of the solid-oxide fuel-cell stack type. The device includes a planar assembly having at least one electrochemical cell comprised between first and second gas diffusing plates made of ceramic of expansion coefficient between 8×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 and 14×10.sup.−6K.sup.−1 and drilled with equidistant holes. First and second current conductive metal grids each are connected to a conductive wire allowing current to flow out of the device. The grilles are placed on either side of the at least one electrochemical cell between this cell and each of the first and second gas diffusing plates. A clamping device mechanically holds the planar assembly together.