A method of generating electrical power or hydrogen from thermal energy is disclosed. The method includes separating, by a selectively permeable membrane, a first saline solution from a second saline solution, receiving, by the first saline solution and/or the second saline solution, thermal energy from a heat source, and mixing the first saline solution and the second saline solution in a controlled manner, capturing at least some salinity-gradient energy as electrical power as the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution decreases. The method further includes transferring, by a heat pump, thermal energy from the first saline solution to the second saline solution, causing the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution to increase.

The present invention concerns a device for producing electrical energy, comprising: a) a first reservoir A for receiving an electrolyte solution having a concentration CA of a solute and comprising an electrode (30A) in contact with the electrolyte solution having concentration CA; b) a second reservoir B for receiving an electrolyte solution having a concentration CB of one and the same solute, CB being lower than CA, and comprising an electrode in contact with the electrolyte solution having concentration CB; c) a membrane separating the two reservoirs, said membrane comprising pores allowing the electrolytes to diffuse from reservoir A to reservoir B through said pore or pores; and d) a device capable of supplying the electrical energy generated by the potential difference existing between the two electrodes, characterized in that the membrane comprises at least one layer formed of a cellulosic material comprising a network of crosslinked cellulose nanofibres and/or microfibres.

An anion exchange polymer includes aryl ether linkage free polyarylenes having aromatic/polyaromatic rings in polymer backbone and a tethered alkyl quaternary ammonium hydroxide side groups. This anion exchange polymer may be utilized in an anion exchange process and may be made into a thin anion transfer membrane. An ion transfer membrane may be mechanically reinforced having one or more layers of functional polymer based on a terphenyl backbone with quaternary ammonium functional groups and an inert porous scaffold material for reinforcement. An anion exchange membrane may have multilayers of anion exchange polymers which each containing varying types of backbones, varying degrees of functionalization, or varying functional groups to reduce ammonia crossover through the membrane.

Methods are described for treating aqueous solutions, including wastewater, to remove nitrogen-containing compounds using electrochemical processes. The method may be conducted electrolytically under an applied voltage or using endogenous current in a fuel cell arrangement. In some embodiments, energy is reclaimed in the form of hydrogen, methane, and other hydrocarbons or organic molecules. Microorganisms may be used as the catalyst for oxidation of the nitrogen-containing compound and/or reduction of hydrogen ions, carbon dioxide, or bicarbonate. Anaerobic or low-oxygen conditions may be used in the zone.

Described herein are flow field plates comprising a flow field pattern and fuel cells comprising the flow field plates comprising a flow field pattern. The flow field plates and fuel cells are applicable to fuel cells and stacks over a range of sizes and fuel/oxidant combinations as long as the fuel and oxidant are incompressible liquids.

Described herein are flow field plates comprising a flow field pattern and fuel cells comprising the flow field plates comprising a flow field pattern. The flow field plates and fuel cells are applicable to fuel cells and stacks over a range of sizes and fuel/oxidant combinations as long as the fuel and oxidant are incompressible liquids.

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.

A flow battery system includes a first tank including a hydrogen reactant, a second tank including a bromine electrolyte, and at least one cell including a first electrolyte side operably connected to the first tank and a second electrolyte side operably connected to the second tank. The battery system further includes a direct connection line directly connecting the first tank and the second tank and configured such that the hydrogen reactant passes between the first tank and the second tank.

A flow battery system includes a first tank including a hydrogen reactant, a second tank including a bromine electrolyte, and at least one cell including a first electrolyte side operably connected to the first tank and a second electrolyte side operably connected to the second tank. The battery system further includes a direct connection line directly connecting the first tank and the second tank and configured such that the hydrogen reactant passes between the first tank and the second tank.

An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.