Abstract: Disclosed is an anode electrocatalyst for a fuel cell comprising an alloy essentially consisting of at least one of tin, germanium and molybdenum, and one or more noble metals selected from platinum, palladium and ruthenium.The tin, germanium and/or molybdenum gas the ability of depressing the poisioning of the noble metal with carbon monoxide so that fuel containing a relatively high content of the carbon monoxide may be supplied to a fuel cell equipped with anode in accordance with the present invention which is otherwise liable to be poisioned.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of preparing an electrode for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which comprises applying a suspension liquid containing a catalyst and ion exchange resin or a catalyst, Ion exchange resin and hydrophobic resin to an electrode substrate, and forming a catalyst layer by drying, sintering the substrate under pressure characterized in that a high boiling point solvent which cannot be removed during the drying procedure is added to the suspension liquid. In this process, the high boiling point solvent such as glycerin and n-butanol which is not removed during the drying step is present in the pressurizing and sintering steps so that the situation of the catalyst layer is maintained constant scarcely influenced by the conditions of the said steps. The above solvent imparts pertinent softness to the ion exchange resin so as not to fill the pores for gas diffusion in the catalyst layer and to sufficiently bond the pieces of the ion exchange having the role of conducting H.sup.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are four aspects of processes for preparing an electrode for a solid polymer electrolyte electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell. According to the processes, the electrode having a thin and uniform electrocatalyst layer can be obtained effectively and economically. The processes include a spraying method, a paste rolling method and a dry mixture method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sandwich-type solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising in sequence, a cathode current collector; a cathode electrically connected to the cathode current collector, said cathode containing an ion exchange resin and cathode catalyst particles in electrical communication with the cathode; an ion exchange membrane; an anode containing an ion exchange resin and anode catalyst particles in electrical communication with the anode; and an anode current collector electrically connected to the anode. The cathode and/or anode contain, in the ion exchange resin, catalyst metals capable of promoting the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gases to produce water. The catalyst metals are insulated electrically from the current collectors due to the presence of the ion exchange resin which has no electrical conductivity.

Abstract: Disclosed an electrode for a polymer electrolyte electrochemical cell which comprises catalyst supports carrying catalyst particles, a first solid polymer electrolyte layer insoluble in water and an organic solvent formed on the particles and a second solid polymer electrolyte layer insoluble or soluble in the organic solvent formed on part of the surface of the first solid polymer electrolyte layer and a process of preparing same.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several aspects processes of preparing a polymer electrolyte electrochemical cell in which supply of a reaction gas and discharge of an obtained gas can be smoothly conducted. This can be achieved by forming through apertures in a cathode or by forming a gradient of ion exchange resin concentration of a catalyst particle cluster size.

Abstract: Disclosed is a platinum alloy catalyst comprising a carbon support and, platinum, manganese and iron supported thereon. The activities of this platinum alloy catalyst are higher than those of a binary alloy catalyst consisting of platinum and manganese and even of a platinum-nickel-cobalt alloy catalyst which is one of the most active conventional platinum alloy catalysts, and its life is greatly extended. Moreover, it is quite useful when utilized as an electrocatalyst of a fuel cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of preparing an ion exchange membrane which comprises adding a highly hydrophilic solvent into a solution of an ion exchange resin containing an ion exchange group on the polymer chain, placing the solution into a membrane-forming vessel and forming a membrane by removing the solvent.The ion exchange membrane prepared in accordance with the present invention exhibits the high degree of orientation so that the ionic conductivity can be elevated to provide the satisfactory cell performance.

Abstract: The polymer solid-electrolyte composition according to the present invention comprises a polymer solid electrolyte selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid, polysulfones, perfluorocarbonic acid, styrene-divinylbenzene sulfonic acid cation-exchange resins and styrene-butadiene anion-exchange resins, and 0.01-50% by weight of fine particle silica and/or fibrous silica fiber relative to the weight of the polymer solid electrolyte.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process of preparing a catalyst having narrow particle size distribution and supported with monodispersed metal particles of which a particle size is about less than 20 .ANG.. In the present invention, propargyl alcohol is employed in place of a sulfur-containing agent for supporting the metal particles on a support thereby avoiding the contamination of the sulfur component and the high temperature treatment for decomposing the sulfur-containing agent. Accordingly, the resulting catalyst contains no sulfur contaminant and substantially no agglomerated metal particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which contains a catalyst impregnated layer in an ion exchange membrane which is electrically isolated but ion conductive. In place of the catalyst layer, catalyst particles existing in an anode and/or a cathode may be employed. The catalyst layer and the catalyst particles are attributable to the prevention of the lowering of a cell voltage and the employment of an inexpensive hydrocarbon ion exchange membrane and of a thin membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode structure for fuel cell having a carbon support of which an apparent density is between 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 and 1.2 g/cm.sup.3.In this electrode structure, the sufficient diffusion of gases can be secured because the sufficient cavities are securely formed in the catalyst electrode layer by the carbon support having a smaller apparent density or a larger porosity even if the thickness of the catalyst electrode layer increases.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a process of preparing a metal supported catalyst having a high surface area comprising reducing one or more metal-containing ions in a solution employing one or more reducing agents selected from the group consisting of thiourea and thioacetamide, and supporting the reduced metal or metals onto a support. The thiourea and the thioacetamide exhibit more excellent activity and durability than those of ordinary reducing agents such as sodium borohydride and other sulfur-containing reducing agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process of preparing a catalyst having narrow particle size distribution and supported with monodispersed platinum particles of which a particle size is about less than 20 .ANG.. In the present invention, allyl alcohol and hydrazinc hydrate are employed in place of a sulfur-containing agent for supporting the platinum particles on a support thereby avoiding the contamination of the sulfur component and the high temperature treatment for decomposing the sulfur-containing agent. Accordingly, the resulting catalyst contains no sulfur contaminant and substantially no agglomerated platinum particles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process of preparing a solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell formed by combining a cathode current collector, a cathode containing cathode particles, an ion exchange membrane, an anode containing anode particles and an anode current collector characterized by comprising reducing a catalyst metal salt in an organic solution with the solid polymer electrolyte, depositing the reduced catalyst metal in the solid polymer electrolyte to form the cathode and/or the anode, interposing the cathode and/or the anode between the respective current collectors and the ion exchange membrane and pressing for assembling the fuel cell.Also disclosed is the same process as above except that the support is present in the solid polymer electrolyte.In the fuel cells prepared in accordance with the present invention, the catalyst metal always exists in the solid polymer electrolyte, and even if a cavity is formed in the solid polymer electrolyte, the catalyst metal is not exposed to the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of preparing a catalyst supporting highly metal particles comprising, in the presence of carbon monoxide in a solution containing a metal-containing ion and a support on which metal particles produced by reduction of the metal-containing ion are supported, reducing by means of a reductant the metal-containing ion to the corresponding metal particles which are then supported on the support. According to the process of the present invention, because of the presence of the carbon monoxide which is supposed to have a function of depressing the deposition of a new metal particle present around the metal particles supported on the support, that is, the growth of the metal particles and another function of preventing the agglomeration among the metal particles supported, the catalyst of excellent properties having the metal particles supported and monodispersed on the support with the narrow particle size distribution can be prepared of which an average particle size is not more than 20 .ANG..

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of preparing a catalyst supporting highly metal particles comprising, in the presence of ethylene and/or acetylene in a solution containing a metal-containing ion and a support on which metal particles produced by reduction of the metal-containing ion are supported, reducing by means of a reductant the metal-containing ion to the corresponding metal particles which are then supported on the support. According to the process of this invention, because of the presence of the ethylene and/or acetylene which is supposed to have a function of depressing the deposition of new metal particles present around the metal particles supported on the support, that is, the growth of the metal particles and another function of preventing the agglomeration among the metal particles supported, the catalyst of the desired properties can be prepared.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a structure of an ion exchange membrane comprising the ion exchange membrane and at least one ion-conductive thin layer having a lower glass transition temperature than that of the ion exchange membrane on at least one surface of the membrane.According to the present invention, an electrochemical cell can be formed of which an ion exchange membrane and electrodes may be sufficiently bonded to maximize the cell performance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrocatalyst which comprises an inorganic support and four-element alloy essentially consisting of 10 to 39 atomic percent of platinum, 30 to 5 atomic percent of nickel, 30 to 5 atomic percent of cobalt and 30 to 3 atomic percent of manganese supported on the inorganic support. The electrocatalyst possesses excellent anti-poisoning against carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrocatalyst which comprises an inorganic support and a ternary alloy essentially consisting of platinum-palladium-ruthenium supported on the support. The electrocatalyst possesses excellent anti-poisoning against carbon monoxide.