Patent ID: 7811711

Claim:
A method for producing a reinforced rigid anode monolith and fuel, the method comprising: providing a solution of organic aerogel or xerogel precursors including at least one of a phenolic resin, phenol (hydroxybenzene), resorcinol(1, 3-dihydroxybenzene), or catechol(1,2-dihydroxybenzene); at least one aldehyde compound selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and furfuraldehyde; and a transition metal oxide catalyst; adding internal reinforcement materials selected from (1) ceramic materials; (2) glassy materials based on borates, phosphates, or silicates with alkaline earth or transition metal cations; and/or (3) carbon materials to said precursor solution to form a precursor mixture; gelling said precursor mixture to form a composite gel; drying said composite gel; and pyrolyzing said composite gel to form an aerogel/carbon composite or a xerogel/carbon composite wherein said composites comprise chars and said internal reinforcement materials, and said chars are fuel capable of being combusted in a molten salt electrochemical fuel cell in the range from 500 C to 800 C to produce electrical energy.