A gas diffusion layer, a preparation method therefor, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell. The gas diffusion layer comprises gas diffusion layer substrates (41, 42) and a microporous layer slurry coated on the gas diffusion layer substrates (41, 42). An additive that contains catechol or contains a catechol structure compound is specifically added into the microporous layer slurry, and the additive is specifically dopamine hydrochloride.

Herein disclosed is a method of treating a component of a fuel cell, which includes the step of exposing the component of the fuel cell to a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The component comprises a first material. The EMR has a wavelength ranging from 10 to 1500 nm and the EMR has a minimum energy density of 0.1 Joule/cm2. Preferably, the treatment process has one or more of the following effects: heating, drying, curing, sintering, annealing, sealing, alloying, evaporating, restructuring, foaming. In an embodiment, the substrate is a component in a fuel cell. Such component comprises an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, a catalyst, a barrier layer, a interconnect, a reformer, or reformer catalyst. In an embodiment, the substrate is a layer in a fuel cell or a portion of a layer in a fuel cell or a combination of layers in a fuel cell or a combination of partial layers in a fuel cell.

A method of producing electrodes includes selecting a palladium alloy, annealing the palladium alloy at a first temperature above 350° C., cold working the palladium alloy into a desired electrode shape, and annealing the palladium alloy at a second temperatures and for a time sufficient to produce a grain size between about 5 microns and about 100 microns. The method further includes etching the palladium alloy, rinsing the palladium alloy with at least one of water and heavy water, and storing the palladium alloy in an inert environment.

Techniques for fabricating a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) including sintering an electrolyte, printing a fuel-side electrode disposed on a fuel side of the electrolyte, printing an air-side electrode disposed on an air side of the electrolyte, first sintering a combination of the electrolyte, fuel-side electrode, and air-side electrode, printing a barrier layer an air side of the electrolyte, printing a functional layer on the barrier layer, printing a collector layer on the functional layer, and second sintering a combination of the electrolyte, fuel-side electrode, air-side electrode, barrier layer, functional layer, and collector layer.

A cathode configured for use within a fuel cell system is provided. The cathode includes a cathode substrate. The cathode further includes a coating disposed upon the cathode substrate and including a fluorocarbon polymer additive configured for sintering at a temperature of less than 200° C. The fluorocarbon polymer additive may be mixed with a catalyst ink coating or may be applied separately as a topcoat layer.

A proton conductor contains a metal oxide that has a perovskite structure and that is represented by formula (1): A.sub.xB.sub.1-yM.sub.yO.sub.3-δ, where an element A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Ca, and Sr, an element B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce and Zr, an element M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Yb, Er, Ho, Tm, Gd, In, and Sc, δ indicates an oxygen deficiency amount, and 0.95≤x≤1 and 0<y≤0.5 are satisfied.

A nanowire catalyst for a fuel cell has a porous structure in which first and second pores having predetermined pore sizes are uniformly dispersed inside and on the surface thereof at a predetermined volume ratio. This enables the efficient exposure of active sites and efficient mass transfer, thereby improving fuel cell performance.

Herein discussed is an electrode comprising a copper or copper oxide phase and a ceramic phase, wherein the copper or copper oxide phase and the ceramic phase are sintered and are inter-dispersed with one another. Further discussed herein is a method of making a copper-containing electrode comprising: (a) forming a dispersion comprising ceramic particles and copper or copper oxide particles; (b) depositing the dispersion onto a substrate to form a slice; and (c) sintering the slice using electromagnetic radiation.

A hydrogen electrode includes: a first layer; and a second layer located on the side of the electrolyte membrane relative to the first layer. The first layer is formed of a sintered body of a first metal and a first oxide. The second layer is formed of a sintered body of a second metal and a second oxide different from the first oxide. The first metal and the second metal each are a single metal of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu or an alloy of the element. The first oxide is zirconia stabilized with an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Sc, Ca, and Mg. The second oxide is ceria doped with an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sm, Gd, and Y.

One variation of a contact material includes: a base material including a first amount of Lanthanum, a second amount of Nickel, and a third amount of Oxygen; a fourth amount of a first doping agent configured to stabilize a crystal structure of the base material; and a fifth amount of a second doping agent, in the set of doping agents, configured to limit thermal expansion of the base material. The contact material exhibits: a thermal expansion coefficient between 10.0×10.sup.−6K.sup.−1 and 15.0×10.sup.−6K.sup.−1 at temperatures between 25 degrees Celsius and 1100 degrees Celsius; and an electrical conductivity greater than 200 Siemens-per-centimeter at temperatures within a temperature range of 700 degrees Celsius to 1300 degrees Celsius.