Example biosensor devices having wake-up batteries and associated methods are disclosed. One example device includes a biosensor that has a first electrode for insertion into a subcutaneous layer beneath a patient's skin, and a second electrode coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a first battery to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes, the first battery at least partially electrically decoupled from the electrodes. The device also includes a second battery having an anode material coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a portion of the second electrode. The second battery is activatable upon immersion in an electrolytic fluid. The device also includes a wake-up circuit to receive a signal from the second battery and, in response, to electrically couple the first battery to the first and second electrodes to activate the biosensor.

A gas diffusion electrode has a microporous layer on at least one surface of an electrical conducting porous substrate. The microporous layer has at least a first microporous layer in contact with the electrical conducting porous substrate, and a second microporous layer. The gas diffusion electrode has a pore size distribution with a peak at least in a first region of 10 m or more and 100 m or less, a second region of 0.2 m or more and less than 1.0 m, and a third region of 0.050 m or more and less than 0.2 m. The total volume of the pores in the second region is 10% or more and 40% or less of the total volume of the pores in the first region, and the total volume of the pores in the third region is 40% or more and 80% or less of the total volume of the pores in the second region.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as a fuel cell assembly, with increased production of syngas while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO.sub.2 exiting the fuel cell in the cathode exhaust stream. This can allow for improved efficiency of syngas production while also generating electrical power.

A method of fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) architectured anode. The method comprises immersing a fabric textile in a precursor solution, the precursor solution comprising a nickel salt and gadolinium doped ceria (GDC). The nickel salt and GDC are absorbed to the fabric textile. The fabric textile comprising the absorbed nickel salt and GDC is removed from the precursor solution and calcined to form a 3D architectured anode comprising nickel oxide and GDC. Additional methods and a direct carbon fuel cell including the 3D architectured anode are also disclosed.

In a manufacturing method for a gas diffusion sheet, when a first film is joined to a front end portion of a base material in a conveyance direction, a first joining material is made to penetrate a first overlapping portion where the first film and the base material are superimposed on each other, and the first film and the base material are thus joined to each other physically through the first joining material. When a second film is joined to a rear end portion of the base material in the conveyance direction, a second joining material is made to penetrate a second overlapping portion where the base material and the second film are superimposed on each other, and the base material and the second film are thus physically joined to each other through the second joining material.

In a method of producing a membrane electrode assembly, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and gas diffusion layers are stacked together in a stacking direction in a manner that electrode catalyst layers are interposed between at least parts of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layers to form a stack body. A load is applied to the stack body in the stacking direction, and the temperature of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is increased by high frequency dielectric heating. In this manner, the gas diffusion layers, the electrode catalyst layers, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane are joined integrally to obtain the membrane electrode assembly.

An apparatus includes: an electrolyte membrane; a cathode catalyst layer provided to one main surface of the electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer provided to the other main surface of the electrolyte membrane; a cathode gas diffusion layer provided on a main surface of the cathode catalyst layer not facing the electrolyte membrane; a separator including a recess through which cathode gas flows; an anode gas diffusion layer provided on a main surface of the anode catalyst layer not facing the electrolyte membrane; a voltage applicator applying a voltage between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer; and a fastener fastening a laminated body. The cathode gas diffusion layer is accommodated in the recess, projects from the recess in a thickness direction before fastening of the laminated body, and includes an elastic member between side surfaces of the cathode gas diffusion layer and of the recess.

A gas diffusion electrode has a microporous layer on at least one surface of an electrical conducting porous substrate. The microporous layer has at least a first microporous layer in contact with the electrical conducting porous substrate, and a second microporous layer. The gas diffusion electrode has a pore size distribution with a peak at least in a first region of 10 ?m or more and 100 ?m or less, a second region of 0.2 ?m or more and less than 1.0 ?m, and a third region of 0.050 ?m or more and less than 0.2 ?m. The total volume of the pores in the second region is 10% or more and 40% or less of the total volume of the pores in the first region, and the total volume of the pores in the third region is 40% or more and 80% or less of the total volume of the pores in the second region.

A gas diffusion electrode comprises microporous layers on at least one side of an electrically conductive porous substrate. The gas diffusion electrode has a thickness of 30 ?m to 180 ?m, and the microporous layer has a thickness of 10 ?m to 100 ?m. When the surface of the microporous layer is observed for the area 0.25 mm.sup.2 for 4000 viewing areas, the number of the viewing areas having a maximal height Rz of not less than 50 ?m is, among the 4000 viewing areas, 0 viewing areas to 5 viewing areas. A gas diffusion electrode satisfies both the prevention of the damage to an electrolyte membrane by a gas diffusing layer and the gas diffusivity of the gas diffusing layer, and exhibits good performance as a fuel cell.

Provided is an electrode catalyst in which the contents of chlorine (Cl) species and bromine (Br) species are reduced to a predetermined level or lower, capable of exhibiting sufficient catalyst performance. The electrode catalyst has a core-shell structure including a support, a core part formed on the support and a shell part formed to cover at least a part of the surface of the core part. A concentration of bromine (Br) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 400 ppm or less, and a concentration of chlorine (Cl) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 900 ppm or less.