Patents by Inventor Chihiro Hiraiwa

Chihiro Hiraiwa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180205096
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a MEA that includes a cathode, an anode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the cathode and the anode, the solid electrolyte layer containing an ion-conducting solid oxide; at least one first porous metal body arranged to oppose at least one of the cathode and the anode; and an interconnector arranged to oppose the first porous metal body and having a gas supply port and a gas discharge port formed therein. The first porous metal body includes a porous metal body S that opposes the gas supply port and has a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton, and a porous metal body H that has a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton and is other than the porous metal body S. A porosity Ps of the porous metal body S and a porosity Ph of the porous metal body H satisfy a relationship: Ps<Ph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Naho MIZUHARA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Kazunari MIYAMOTO, Toshihiro YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180205105
    Abstract: An electrolyte layer-anode composite member for a fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer containing an ionically conductive metal oxide M1, a first anode layer containing an ionically conductive metal oxide M2 and nickel oxide, and a second anode layer interposed between the solid electrolyte layer and the first anode layer and containing an ionically conductive metal oxide M3 and nickel oxide. A volume content Cn1 of the nickel oxide in the first anode layer and a volume content Cn2 of the nickel oxide in the second anode layer satisfy the relation Cn1<Cn2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisao TAKEUCHI, Takashi MATSUURA, Naho MIZUHARA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Tomoyuki AWAZU, Masatoshi MAJIMA
  • Patent number: 10003082
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst material that has an increased reduction rate of a nickel catalyst and thus an improved catalytic function in a fuel cell. The electrode catalyst material for fuel cells contains nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. The electrode catalyst material contains a cobalt metal component in an amount of 2 to 15 mass % with respect to the total mass of a nickel metal component and the cobalt metal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Naho Mizuhara, Masatoshi Majima, Takahiro Higashino, Aiko Tominaga, Junji Iihara
  • Publication number: 20180093318
    Abstract: A composite material including a first porous metal body having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton, a second porous metal body having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton, and a bonding portion formed by entanglement of the skeleton of the first porous metal body and the skeleton of the second porous metal body. The porosity of the first porous metal body may be different from the porosity of the second porous metal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Naho MIZUHARA, Kazuki OKUNO, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Kazunari MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180037508
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte layer contains a proton conductor having a perovskite structure, the proton conductor being represented by formula (1): BaxZryCezM1?(y+z)O3?? (where element M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Y, Yb, Er, Ho, Tm, Gd, and Sc, 0.85?x<0.98, 0.70?y+z<1.00, a ratio of y/z is 0.5/0.5 to 1/0, and ? is an oxygen vacancy concentration).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Naho MIZUHARA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Hisao TAKEUCHI, Masatoshi MAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180022655
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic material includes a step of performing heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere on a ceramic material in which a metallic oxide is diffused in crystal grains, thereby to reduce the metallic oxide to deposit a metallic element at grain boundaries of the ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Naho MIZUHARA, Tetsuya UDA, Donglin HAN
  • Patent number: 9876248
    Abstract: Provided is a solid electrolyte made of yttrium-doped barium zirconate having hydrogen ion conductivity, a doped amount of yttrium being 15 mol % to 20 mol %, and a rate of increase in lattice constant at 100° C. to 1000° C. with respect to temperature changes being substantially constant. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the solid electrolyte. This solid electrolyte can be formed as a thin film, and a solid electrolyte laminate can be obtained by laminating electrode layers on this solid electrolyte. This solid electrolyte can be applied to an intermediate temperature operating fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Naho Mizuhara, Tetsuya Uda, Donglin Han, Akiko Kuramitsu
  • Publication number: 20170373324
    Abstract: A method for producing an anode capable of increasing output of a solid oxide fuel cell is provided. The method for producing an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a first step of shaping a mixture that contains a perovskite oxide having proton conductivity and a nickel compound and a second step of firing a shaped product, which has been obtained in the first step, in an atmosphere containing 50% by volume or more of oxygen at 1100° C. to 1350° C. so as to generate an anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei NODA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Naho MIZUHARA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Takahiro HIGASHINO
  • Patent number: 9853295
    Abstract: The present invention inexpensively provides an electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material having CO2 resistance and being capable of forming a fuel cell having high electricity generation performance. An electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material constituting a fuel electrode of a fuel cell including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer, includes a perovskite-type solid electrolyte component and a nickel (Ni) catalyst component, in which the solid electrolyte component includes a barium component, a zirconium component, a cerium component, and a yttrium component, and the mixture ratio of the zirconium component to the cerium component in the solid electrolyte component is set to be 1:7 to 7:1 in terms of molar ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Higashino, Masatoshi Majima, Naho Mizuhara, Chihiro Hiraiwa
  • Publication number: 20170317371
    Abstract: A cell structure includes a cathode, an anode, and a protonically conductive solid electrolyte layer between the cathode and the anode. The solid electrolyte layer contains a compound having a perovskite structure and containing zirconium, cerium, and a rare-earth element other than cerium. If the solid electrolyte layer has a thickness of T, the elemental ratio of zirconium to cerium at a position 0.25 T from a surface of the solid electrolyte layer opposite the cathode, ZrC/CeC, and the elemental ratio of zirconium to cerium at a position 0.25 T from a surface of the solid electrolyte layer opposite the anode, ZrA/CeA, satisfy ZrC/CeC>ZrA/CeA, and ZrC/CeC>1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Naho MIZUHARA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Hisao TAKEUCHI, Masatoshi MAJIMA
  • Patent number: 9692062
    Abstract: Provided are a fuel cell that employs a fuel-electrode collector excellent in terms of thermal conductivity and the like, so that it is excellent in terms of power generation efficiency and cost effectiveness; and a method for operating the fuel cell. Included are a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a fuel-electrode collector that is a porous metal body disposed in contact with a fuel electrode and performing current collection, and a heating device operated by electric power, wherein a solid electrolyte is a proton-permeable electrolyte, a fuel-gas channel is provided to cause a fuel gas to pass through the fuel-electrode collector, and the porous metal body constituting the fuel-electrode collector is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Akihisa Hosoe
  • Publication number: 20170133699
    Abstract: Provided are a membrane electrode assembly, including a solid electrolyte layer, an anode layer provided on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and a cathode layer provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer, the anode layer being stacked on the solid electrolyte layer to be pressed thereagainst, the anode layer including a porous anode member having electrical conductivity; and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY COPRORATION
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Naho MIZUHARA, Tatsumi ISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20170098841
    Abstract: Provided is a porous current collector which is used for a fuel electrode and has a high gas reforming function and high durability. A porous current collector 9 is provided adjacent to a fuel electrode 4 of a fuel cell 101 that includes a solid electrolyte layer 2, the fuel electrode 4 disposed on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and an air electrode 3 disposed on the other side. The porous current collector includes a porous metal body 1 and a first catalyst 20. The porous metal body has an alloy layer 12a at least on a surface thereof, the alloy layer containing nickel (Ni) and tin (Sn). The first catalyst, which is in the form of particles, is supported on a surface of the alloy layer, the surface facing pores of the porous metal body, and is capable of processing a carbon component contained in a fuel gas that flows inside the pores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro HIGASHINO, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Naho MIZUHARA, Kazuki OKUNO, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Yohei NODA, Masahiro KATO
  • Publication number: 20170077526
    Abstract: A gas decomposition device 100 includes one or two or more membrane electrode assemblies 5, each including a solid electrolyte layer 2, an anode layer 3 stacked on a first side of the solid electrolyte layer 2, and a cathode layer 4 stacked on a second side of the solid electrolyte layer; and porous current collectors 8a, 8b, and 8c including continuous pores 1b, the membrane electrode assemblies being stacked with the porous current collector, the solid electrolyte layer being composed of a proton-conducting solid electrolyte, the porous current collectors including porous metal bodies 1, each of the porous metal bodies 1 including an alloy layer 12a having corrosion resistance on at least a surface of the porous metal body 1 facing the continuous pores, and the porous metal bodies forming gas channels 9a, 9b, and 9c that supply gases to the anode layer and the cathode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Naho MIZUHARA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA
  • Publication number: 20170025687
    Abstract: An inexpensive porous current collector having high durability is provided by forming a silver layer having high strength on a current collector formed from a nickel porous base material. Porous current collectors 8a and 9a are used in a fuel cell 101 including a solid electrolyte layer 2, a first electrode layer 3 on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer 4 on the other side. The porous current collectors each include: an alloy layer 60a, which is formed from a tin (Sn)-containing alloy, at least on the surfaces of continuous pores 52 of a nickel porous base material 60 having the continuous pores 52; and a silver layer 55 stacked on the alloy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Yohei NODA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Kazuki OKUNO, Naho MIZUHARA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Masahiro KATO
  • Patent number: 9455464
    Abstract: Provided are a gas decomposition component, a method for producing a gas decomposition component, and a power generation apparatus. A gas decomposition component 10 includes a cylindrical-body MEA 7 including a first electrode 2 disposed on an inner-surface side, a second electrode 5 disposed on an outer-surface side, and a solid electrolyte 1 sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a porous metal body 11s inserted on the inner-surface side of the cylindrical-body MEA and electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the gas decomposition component further includes a porous conductive-paste-coated layer 11 g formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first electrode, and a metal mesh sheet 11 a disposed on an inner circumferential side of the conductive-paste-coated layer, and an electrical connection between the first electrode and the porous metal body is established through the conductive-paste-coated layer and the metal mesh sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Tetsuya Kuwabara, Tomoyuki Awazu, Naho Mizuhara, Toshio Ueda, Hideyuki Doi, Toshiyuki Kuramoto
  • Publication number: 20160248101
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst material that has an increased reduction rate of a nickel catalyst and thus an improved catalytic function in a fuel cell. The electrode catalyst material for fuel cells contains nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. The electrode catalyst material contains a cobalt metal component in an amount of 2 to 15 mass % with respect to the total mass of a nickel metal component and the cobalt metal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Naho MIZUHARA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Aiko TOMINAGA, Junji IIHARA
  • Publication number: 20160218385
    Abstract: Provided are a gas decomposition component, a method for producing a gas decomposition component, and a power generation apparatus. A gas decomposition component 10 includes a cylindrical-body MEA 7 including a first electrode 2 disposed on an inner-surface side, a second electrode 5 disposed on an outer-surface side, and a solid electrolyte 1 sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a porous metal body 11s inserted on the inner-surface side of the cylindrical-body MEA and electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the gas decomposition component further includes a porous conductive-paste-coated layer 11 g formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first electrode, and a metal mesh sheet 11 a disposed on an inner circumferential side of the conductive-paste-coated layer, and an electrical connection between the first electrode and the porous metal body is established through the conductive-paste-coated layer and the metal mesh sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Tetsuya KUWABARA, Tomoyuki AWAZU, Naho MIZUHARA, Toshio UEDA, Hideyuki DOI, Toshiyuki KURAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160204446
    Abstract: The present invention inexpensively provides an electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material having CO2 resistance and being capable of forming a fuel cell having high electricity generation performance. An electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material constituting a fuel electrode of a fuel cell including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer, includes a perovskite-type solid electrolyte component and a nickel (Ni) catalyst component, in which the solid electrolyte component includes a barium component, a zirconium component, a cerium component, and a yttrium component, and the mixture ratio of the zirconium component to the cerium component in the solid electrolyte component is set to be 1:7 to 7:1 in terms of molar ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Takahiro HIGASHINO, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Naho MIZUHARA, Chihiro HIRAIWA
  • Publication number: 20160156058
    Abstract: There is provided a composite material for a fuel cell, in which in the case where an electrolyte-anode laminate is co-fired, the composite material is capable of inhibiting a decrease in the ion conduction performance of a solid electrolyte layer to enhance the power generation performance of the fuel cell. A composite material 1 for a fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer 3 and an anode layer 2 stacked on the solid electrolyte layer, in which the solid electrolyte layer is composed of an ionic conductor in which the A-site of a perovskite structure is occupied by at least one of barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) and tetravalent cations in the B-sites are partially replaced with a trivalent rare-earth element, the anode layer contains an electrolyte component having the same composition as the solid electrolyte layer, a nickel (Ni) catalyst, and an additive containing a rare-earth element, the additive being located at least at an interfacial portion with the solid electrolyte layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao TAKEUCHI, Takashi MATSUURA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Naho MIZUHARA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Masatoshi MAJIMA