Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell capable of stopping, during abnormal heat generation, a supply of fuel and/or air, and preventing additional abnormal heat generation. In an electrode structure (a heat generation section), a fusible porous film is disposed between a cathode electrode and a cathode-side exterior member, and a fusible porous film is disposed between an anode electrode and an anode-side exterior member. The fusible porous films and may be made of resin having a low melting point and being not soluble in fuel (methanol), or may be made of a combination of a porous film and polyolefin wax with a low melting point. When abnormal heat generation occurs in the fuel cell 1, the fusible porous films and are melted by heat, and pores formed thereto disappear so that a supply of fuel and/or air can be cut off without fail.

Abstract: A fuel cell and a temperature measurement method capable of directly measuring average temperature of a power generation unit and preventing dropout of a temperature detecting device are provided. A cathode plate for fixing the position of a power generation unit is set to be in contact with the power generation unit in a heat-transfer fashion and is made of an electric conductor or a semiconductor. When the temperature changes accompanying power generating operation of the power generation unit, the temperature of the cathode plate which is in contact with the power generation unit in a heat-transfer fashion changes. According to the temperature change, the resistance value changes. The resistance value is detected by using a resistance voltage dividing circuit having the cathode plate and resistors. By obtaining the temperature coefficient of the cathode plate in advance, the average temperature of the entire power generation unit is measured from the resistance value of the cathode plate.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge (10) has a fuel container section (11), a fuel supplying port (12) for supplying liquid fuel reserved in the fuel container section (11) to a fuel cell body (30) therethrough, a primary cell (13) for supplying electric power for starting electric power generation of the fuel cell body (30), and an electrode configuration section (14) for supplying the electric power of the primary cell (13) to the fuel cell body (30). The fuel cell body (30) has a fuel accepting port (36) corresponding to the fuel supplying port (12), an electric contact section (37) corresponding to the electrode configuration section (14), a power generating device (31), a fuel supplying pump (33) for supplying liquid fuel from the fuel accepting port (36) to the power generating device (31), and a control device (32) for controlling so that the fuel supplying pump (33) is driven by the electric power of the primary cell (13).

Abstract: A fuel filling kit 10 includes a filling nozzle capable of being inserted into an opening of a fuel cartridge, a filling vessel capable of filling liquid fuel reserved in the inside thereof into the fuel cartridge through the filling nozzle, and an opening sealing sheet for sealing the opening. The opening sealing sheet has a methanol blocking portion having a resisting property to liquid fuel and a sticking portion capable of being attached to the fuel cartridge.

Abstract: A fuel cell capable of being thinned while maintaining a stable electric power supply is provided. A fuel cell includes a power generation section, a fuel tank, a fuel supply section (pump), and a fuel vaporization section. The power generation section has a structure in which a combined body is sandwiched between a cell plate and a cell plate. The combined body has a structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between. In particular, the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided, and are connected by a nozzle section buried therein. A fuel contained in the fuel tank is pumped by the fuel supply section according to the state of the power generation section, and then is vaporized by the fuel vaporization section, and is supplied to the power generation section side.

Abstract: A fuel tank preventing an excessive supply when manually supplying a liquid such as a fuel, a fuel cell and an electronic apparatus using the fuel tank are provided. A fuel tank includes a deformable section which is deformable by external pressure in a part of a housing containing a liquid fuel. The deformable section has a projected shape outward from a top surface of the housing, and has a configuration in which a flat surface is arranged with a bending part in the top surface of the housing. The flat surface of the deformable section is pushed by a finger, a stick or the like to apply external pressure to the deformable section, thereby the deformable section is deformed so as to be flipped with respect to the top surface of the housing. The volumetric capacity in the housing is changed to push the liquid fuel out.

Abstract: A mixture, cation conductor and electrochemical device using same are provided. The mixture and a cation conductor, in which cations can be moved without humidification even in a range of temperatures less than or equal to the boiling point of water, or an electrochemical device such as a fuel cell using them. A fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, which are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between, is provided. The electrolyte film contains a first compound formed of an imidazole derivative containing N having an unshared electron pair and a second compound of at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having structures shown below.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge with which damage or break of a valve due to miss-loading or the like is able to be avoided and safety is able to be improved, a fuel cell, and an electronic device are provided. A fitting groove for fitting to a fuel cell body is provided in a package of a fuel cartridge. Improper force applied to a valve due to inappropriate loading or the like is avoided, and possibility that the valve is damaged or broken is decreased. The valve is provided not projecting from the package. Compared to an existing structure that a valve is projecting outside of the package, the effective volume of a fuel storage space is increased even if the height of the entire cartridge is the same as that of the existing case.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge with which liquid leakage through an air induction hole from a fuel tank is able to be prevented and safety is able to be improved is provided. Switching drive for opening and closing an air induction hole 12 is performed by a valve 13 capable of controlling the switching drive according to a control signal. Thereby, air introduction to a fuel tank 100 containing a fuel is able to be controlled. Thus, for example, at the time of high temperature or fuel disorder, by closing the air induction hole 12 by the valve 13, fuel leakage from the fuel tank through the air induction hole of an existing check valve is able to be prevented, and safety is able to be improved.

Abstract: A fuel cell system with which excessive supply or supply shortage of a vaporized fuel is able to be avoided and stable power generation with high output is able to be made, and an electronic device using the same. In a vaporization chamber, a projection is provided as a heat conduction section to conduct heat generated in a power generation section to a liquid fuel supplied to the vaporization chamber. Between the end of the projection and an inner wall face of an inner member, a gap is provided. In the gap, the heat is effectively conducted to the liquid fuel supplied from the end of a fuel supply route, and the liquid fuel is vaporized. It is possible that the projection is contacted with a section in the vicinity of the end section of the fuel supply route in the inner wall face of the inner member, and thereby heat of the power generation section is conducted to the inner member through the projection, heat is conducted to the liquid fuel through the inner member, and the liquid fuel is vaporized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ionic conductor including a proton conductor, a process for production thereof, and an electrochemical device (such as fuel cell) with said ionic conductor, said ionic conductor being superior in ionic conductivity, water resistance, and film forming properties. The ionic conductor is formed from a polymer in which carbon clusters having ion dissociating functional groups are bonded to each other through connecting groups. The polymer is less water-soluble and more chemically stable than a derivative composed solely of carbon clusters; therefore, it permits many ion dissociating functional group to be introduced thereinto. Moreover, if ion dissociating functional groups are introduced into also the connecting group, it is possible to prevent the concentration of ion dissociating functional groups from decreasing as the result of polymerization. The polymer can be easily synthesized by simple condensation, substitution, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: A liquid tank and a tubular structure for liquid tank capable of suctioning an internal liquid to the last drop even when the tank is tilted to any angle are provided. The tubular structure 40 has a duct line 41 extending from a specific position 41A in the tank body 30 in a direction toward apexes, sides, or faces of the tank body 30. Ends of the duct line 41 are contacted with the apexes, the sides, or the faces of the tank body 30, and have a liquid inlet 41B. Since the inlet 41B is limited to the ends of the duct line 41, flow of the liquid in the tank body 30 has a certain directivity that the liquid enters through only the inlet 41B into the duct line 41, is transported to the specific position 41A, and is suctioned outside. In the tubular structure 40, an inner structure 45 having voids thorough which the liquid passes such as a porous body is provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided capable of preventing destabilization of power generation due to heat generated in an electrochemical device portion (membrane-electrode assembly or the like) and preventing decrease of generation efficiency. In a fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly which performs power generation by chemical reaction, a membrane-electrode assembly is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or two membrane-electrode assemblies are provided adjacent to each other so that the pair is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or another pair, and one of the main surfaces of a membrane-electrode assembly is in contact with outside air without being sealed with another membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: A small fuel cell capable of improving stability of power generation is provided. A heat insulating layer 40 is provided outside an oxidant-electrode-side package member 22. In a face 40A on an oxidant electrode 12 side of the heat insulating layer 40, temperature is increased by heat generation of the oxidant electrode 12. A face 40B on the opposite side of the face 40A is apart from the oxidant electrode 12 and the heat resistivity of the material is high, and accordingly the temperature thereof is lower than that of the face 40A on the oxidant electrode 12 side, and temperature difference is generated in the thickness direction of the heat insulating layer 40. Water generated in the oxidant electrode 12 is vaporized by heat generation of the oxidant electrode 12 and becomes water vapor. Heat is drawn as vaporization heat and thereby heat generation of a power generator 10 is suppressed. The generated water vapor is condensed by the temperature difference in the heat insulting layer 40.

Abstract: An electrochemical device capable of improving arrangement efficiency of bonded bodies and securing favorable sealing characteristics is provided. An electrolyte membrane 11 has a reaction region 11A sandwiched between a fuel electrode 12 and an oxygen electrode 13 and a peripheral region 11B exposed from between the fuel electrode 12 and the oxygen electrode 13. A connection member 20 has a bent section 23 between two flat sections 21 and 22. Since an adhesive layer 14 is provided in the peripheral section 11B of the electrolyte membrane 11, and the bent section 23 of the connection member 20 is bonded to the adhesive layer 14, arrangement efficiency of a bonded body 10 is improved, and favorable sealing characteristics are secured. The adhesive layer 14 has a structure in which a first contact layer having high adhesion to the electrolyte membrane 11, a barrier layer, a strength retention layer, and a second contact layer having high adhesion to the connection member 20 are sequentially laminated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ionic conductor including a proton conductor, a process for production thereof, and an electrochemical device (such as fuel cell) with said ionic conductor, said ionic conductor being superior in ionic conductivity, water resistance, and film forming properties. The ionic conductor is formed from a polymer in which carbon clusters having ion dissociating functional groups are bonded to each other through connecting groups. The polymer is less water-soluble and more chemically stable than a derivative composed solely of carbon clusters; therefore, it permits many ion dissociating functional group to be introduced thereinto. Moreover, if ion dissociating functional groups are introduced into also the connecting group, it is possible to prevent the concentration of ion dissociating functional groups from decreasing as the result of polymerization. The polymer can be easily synthesized by simple condensation, substitution, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge is provided. The fuel cartridge capable of reliably suppressing fuel leakage and realizing improved safety. The fuel cartridge includes a cartridge body having a fuel supply port, and a seal member for directly closing the fuel supply port. The cartridge body has an atmosphere communication port, and the seal member directly closes the fuel supply port and the atmosphere communication port.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ionic conductor including a proton conductor, a process for production thereof, and an electrochemical device (such as fuel cell) with said ionic conductor, said ionic conductor being superior in ionic conductivity, water resistance, and film forming properties. The ionic conductor is formed from a polymer in which carbon clusters having ion dissociating functional groups are bonded to each other through connecting groups. The polymer is less water-soluble and more chemically stable than a derivative composed solely of carbon clusters; therefore, it permits many ion dissociating functional group to be introduced thereinto. Moreover, if ion dissociating functional groups are introduced into also the connecting group, it is possible to prevent the concentration of ion dissociating functional groups from decreasing as the result of polymerization. The polymer can be easily synthesized by simple condensation, substitution, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ion-dissociative functional compound, a method for production thereof, an ionic conductor, and an electrochemical device, the ion-dissociative functional compound being thermally and chemically stable under the condition required of fuel cells and being suitable for use as a material such as protonic conductor in fuel cells. The proton-dissociative functional compound shown in FIG. 1A is composed of a fullerene C60 molecule and about 10 sulfonic acid groups —SO3H as proton-dissociative groups each attached to the fullerene through a difluoromethane group —CF2—. The proton-dissociative functional compound shown in FIG. 1B is composed of fullerene molecules three-dimensionally connected to each other through a linking group —CF2SO2NHSO2CF2—. It contains, as the proton-dissociative group, sulfoneimide groups —SO2NHSO2— and sulfoneamide groups —SO2H2 in addition to sulfonic acid groups.

Abstract: A mixture, cation conductor and electrochemical device using same are provided. The mixture and a cation conductor, in which cations can be moved without humidification even in a range of temperatures less than or equal to the boiling point of water, or an electrochemical device such as a fuel cell using them. A fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, which are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between, is provided. The electrolyte film contains a first compound formed of an imidazole derivative containing N having an unshared electron pair and a second compound of at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having structures shown below.