A stable form which uses a carbon material having electrical conductivity as a raw material and that the electrical conductivity of the carbon material is retained and/or improved, and which improves the electricity generation properties when used in a catalyst layer for a fuel cell. The present invention is directed to, e.g., a calcined material of a mixture of an aromatic compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group and a carbon material having electrical conductivity.

Methods for forming a metal oxide electrolyte improve ionic conductivity. Some of those methods involve applying a first metal compound to a substrate, converting that metal compound to a metal oxide, applying a different metal compound to the metal oxide, and converting the different metal compound to form a second metal oxide. That substrate may be in nanobar form that conforms to an orientation imparted by a magnetic field or an electric field applied before or during the converting. Electrolytes so formed can be used in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, among other applications.

Methods for forming a metal oxide electrolyte improve ionic conductivity. Some of those methods involve applying a first metal compound to a substrate, converting that metal compound to a metal oxide, applying a different metal compound to the metal oxide, and converting the different metal compound to form a second metal oxide. That substrate may be in nanobar form that conforms to an orientation imparted by a magnetic field or an electric field applied before or during the converting. Electrolytes so formed can be used in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, among other applications.

Separator systems for electrochemical systems providing electronic, mechanical and chemical properties useful for applications including electrochemical storage and conversion. Separator systems include structural, physical and electrostatic attributes useful for managing and controlling dendrite formation and for improving the cycle life and rate capability of electrochemical cells including silicon anode based batteries, air cathode based batteries, redox flow batteries, solid electrolyte based systems, fuel cells, flow batteries and semisolid batteries. Separators include multilayer, porous geometries supporting excellent ion transport properties, providing a barrier to prevent dendrite initiated mechanical failure, shorting or thermal runaway, or providing improved electrode conductivity and improved electric field uniformity, as well as composite solid electrolytes with supporting mesh or fiber systems providing solid electrolyte hardness and safety with supporting mesh or fiber toughness and long life required for thin solid electrolytes without fabrication pinholes or operationally created cracks.

Separator systems for electrochemical systems providing electronic, mechanical and chemical properties useful for applications including electrochemical storage and conversion. Separator systems include structural, physical and electrostatic attributes useful for managing and controlling dendrite formation and for improving the cycle life and rate capability of electrochemical cells including silicon anode based batteries, air cathode based batteries, redox flow batteries, solid electrolyte based systems, fuel cells, flow batteries and semisolid batteries. Separators include multilayer, porous geometries supporting excellent ion transport properties, providing a barrier to prevent dendrite initiated mechanical failure, shorting or thermal runaway, or providing improved electrode conductivity and improved electric field uniformity, as well as composite solid electrolytes with supporting mesh or fiber systems providing solid electrolyte hardness and safety with supporting mesh or fiber toughness and long life required for thin solid electrolytes without fabrication pinholes or operationally created cracks.

An anion exchange membrane includes a porous structural framework and bismuth atoms bonded to pore surfaces of the porous structural framework. Each bismuth atom is bonded to a pore surface by way of one or two oxygen atoms.

A method and systems are provided for utilizing black powder to form an electrolyte for a flow battery. In an exemplary method the black powder is heated under an inert atmosphere to form Fe.sub.3O.sub.4. The Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 is dissolved in an acid solution to form an electrolyte solution. A ratio of iron (II) to iron (III) is adjusted by a redox process.

A method and systems are provided for utilizing black powder to form an electrolyte for a flow battery. In an exemplary method the black powder is heated under an inert atmosphere to form Fe.sub.3O.sub.4. The Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 is dissolved in an acid solution to form an electrolyte solution. A ratio of iron (II) to iron (III) is adjusted by a redox process.

Systems and methods are provided for electrolyte distribution, rebalancing, and storage in a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system may include a plurality of redox flow battery cells and a plurality of storage tanks respectively fluidically coupled thereto, wherein a gauge pressure in each of the plurality of storage tanks may be maintained below a relatively low pressure (for example, below 2 psi). In some examples, the redox flow battery system may further include a plurality of rebalancing cells respectively fluidically coupled to the plurality of storage tanks, each of the plurality of rebalancing cells including a stack of internally shorted electrode assemblies. In this way, the redox flow battery system may be operated at less than the relatively low pressure, such that multiple space effective (for example, prismatic and relatively small) storage tanks may be included.

Systems and methods are provided for electrolyte distribution, rebalancing, and storage in a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system may include a plurality of redox flow battery cells and a plurality of storage tanks respectively fluidically coupled thereto, wherein a gauge pressure in each of the plurality of storage tanks may be maintained below a relatively low pressure (for example, below 2 psi). In some examples, the redox flow battery system may further include a plurality of rebalancing cells respectively fluidically coupled to the plurality of storage tanks, each of the plurality of rebalancing cells including a stack of internally shorted electrode assemblies. In this way, the redox flow battery system may be operated at less than the relatively low pressure, such that multiple space effective (for example, prismatic and relatively small) storage tanks may be included.