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FIB-SEM, XPS, TOF-SIMS and electrochemical methods have been used for the characterization of physical properties and chemical composition of microporous carbide derived carbon electrodes, prepared from TiC at 950 • C (noted as TiC-CDC) after 40000 charge/discharge cycles. Changes in surface chemical composition of TiC-CDC electrodes, includes partial contamination with reaction intermediates (F 2 , CH − , CHO − , CN − , organic radicals), and Al current collectors, like partial dissolution of Al from positively charged electrode and deposition of Al onto the negatively charged TiC-CDC electrode surface, have been analyzed. The values of gravimetric energy (taking into consideration the active TiC-CDC material weight only) calculated before and after constant current charge/discharge cycling at cell voltage 3.4 V are quite similar (35 and 34 W h kg −1 , respectively). At starting moment the gravimetric power was practically 1.4 times higher (195 kW kg −1 , 146 kW dm −3 ) than that calculated after 40000 charge/discharge cycles (144 kW kg −1 , 104 kW dm −3 ). The characteristic relaxation time constant (0.94 and 1.23 s, respectively) increases somewhat in accordance with the decrease of power density during long-lasting cycling at higher cell voltage range from 0.2 to 3.4 V.

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Ceramic materials with perovskite structure have recently attracted attention as possible redox stable, sulfur- and carbon tolerant cathode materials for solid oxide electrolysis cells. In this study ceramic SOE single cell was fabricated using impregnation method. La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.5Mn0.5O3–δ-Zr0.94Sc0.06O2–δ cathode was activated with CeO2 and Pd nanoparticles and investigated as potential solid oxide co-electrolysis cell cathode at various working temperatures, cell potentials and inlet gas compositions. Based on the electrochemical measurements data the single cell performed the same in co-electrolysis and water electrolysis modes having total polarization resistance 0.52 Ω cm2 (at 750°C at 1.3 V). Analysis of gas chromatography data shows that the ratio between produced H2 and CO gases decreased with increase of temperature, from 10.5 to 0.76 at 650°C and 800°C, respectively. Also the H2/CO ratio decreased with steam content in inlet gas.

CeO 2 -C(Vulcan) catalyst materials activated with Pt nanoclusters have been synthesized using different methods comprising microwave synthesis, reduction with hydrogen and reduction with NaBH 4 . The materials have been analyzed using low temperature nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy methods. Methanol oxidation has been studied using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and impedance methods. Very noticeable influence of catalyst surface structure and porosity, depending on the complex catalyst preparation conditions, has been demonstrated. High electrochemically active surface area values have been calculated. High current densities of MeOH oxidation have been established for several catalysts. Fitting of the impedance data has been performed, and the results have been discussed.