Abstract:
Disclosed are developments in high temperature fuel cells including ionic liquids with high temperature stability and the storage of inorganic acids as di-anion salts of low volatility. The formation of ionically conducting liquids of this type having conductivities of unprecedented magnitude for non-aqueous systems is described. The stability of the di-anion configuration is shown to play a role in the high performance of the non-corrosive proton-transfer ionic liquids as high temperature fuel cell electrolytes. Performance of simple H 2 (g)electrolyte/O 2 (g) fuel cells with the new electrolytes is described. Superior performance both at ambient temperature and temperatures up to and above 200°C are achieved. Both neutral proton transfer salts and the acid salts with HSO - 4 anions, give good results, the bisulphate case being particularly good at low temperatures and very high temperatures. The performance of all electrolytes is improved by the addition of a small amount of involatile base of pK a value intermediate between those of the acid and base that make the bulk electrolyte. The preferred case is the imidazole-doped ethylammonium hydrogensulfate which yields behavior superior in all respects to that of the industry standard phosphoric acid electrolyte.
Abstract:
An excitation device (51) that generates a strong magnetic field nearly perpendicular to the surface of a specimen is arranged in an apparatus for observation using charged particle beams which irradiates the specimen with charged particle beams and detects the generated secondary electrons to observe the surface of the specimen. The secondary electrons emitted from the bottom or side surface of a recess such as a through hole formed in the surface of the specimen (8) are, then, emitted out of the through hole owing to the interaction with the strong magnetic field. A focusing lens (50) is so arranged that a point of focusing of charged particles exists between the focusing lens (50) and the specimen (8), the charged particles being formed when the charged particles of the same intensity as that of the irradiating charged particles are supposed to be emitted from the specimen surface, thereby to focus the charged particle (46) at a position of the point of focusing. Even when the specimen (8) is subjected to the strong magnetic field, therefore, the charged particles (46) can be focused on the upper surface of the specimen. Therefore, a well-defined secondary electron image of the specimen surface can be obtained under the applied strong magnetic field, and the secondary electron image of the bottom or the side of the through hole can be observed.
Abstract:
Disclosed are developments in high temperature fuel cells including ionic liquids with high temperature stability and the storage of inorganic acids as di-anion salts of low volatility. The formation of ionically conducting liquids of this type having conductivities of unprecedented magnitude for non-aqueous systems is described. The stability of the di-anion configuration is shown to play a role in the high performance of the non-corrosive proton-transfer ionic liquids as high temperature fuel cell electrolytes. Performance of simple H2(g)electrolyte/O2(g) fuel cells with the new electrolytes is described. Superior performance both at ambient temperature and temperatures up to and above 200°C are achieved. Both neutral proton transfer salts and the acid salts with HSO 4 anions, give good results, the bisulphate case being particularly good at low temperatures and very high temperatures. The performance of all electrolytes is improved by the addition of a small amount of involatile base of pKa value intermediate between those of the acid and base that make the bulk electrolyte. The preferred case is the imidazole-doped ethylammonium hydrogensulfate which yields behavior superior in all respects to that of the industry standard phosphoric acid electrolyte.