Patents by Inventor Naho Mizuhara

Naho Mizuhara 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: 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
  • Patent number: 9325024
    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 11g formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first electrode, and a metal mesh sheet 11a 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: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Tetsuya Kuwabara, Tomoyuki Awazu, Naho Mizuhara, Toshio Ueda, Hideyuki Doi, Toshiyuki Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 9132384
    Abstract: Provided are a gas decomposition component, a power generation apparatus including the gas decomposition component, and a method for decomposing a gas. A gas decomposition component includes a cylindrical MEA including a first electrode layer, a cylindrical solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer in order from an inside toward an outside, in a layered structure; a first gas channel through which a first gas that is decomposed flows, the first gas channel being disposed inside the cylindrical MEA; and a second gas channel through which a second gas flows, the second gas channel being disposed outside the cylindrical MEA, wherein the gas decomposition component further includes a heater for heating the entirety of the component; and a preheating pipe through which the first gas to be introduced into the first gas channel passes beforehand to be preheated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Tetsuya Kuwabara, Tomoyuki Awazu, Naho Mizuhara, Toshio Ueda, Hideyuki Doi, Toshiyuki Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 9064706
    Abstract: Group-III nitride crystal composites made up of especially processed crystal slices, cut from III-nitride bulk crystal, whose major surfaces are of {1-10±2}, {11-2±2}, {20-2±1} or {22-4±1} orientation, disposed adjoining each other sideways with the major-surface side of each slice facing up, and III-nitride crystal epitaxially present on the major surfaces of the adjoining slices, with the III-nitride crystal containing, as principal impurities, either silicon atoms or oxygen atoms. With x-ray diffraction FWHMs being measured along an axis defined by a <0001> direction of the substrate projected onto either of the major surfaces, FWHM peak regions are present at intervals of 3 to 5 mm width. Also, with threading dislocation density being measured along a <0001> direction of the III-nitride crystal substrate, threading-dislocation-density peak regions are present at the 3 to 5 mm intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Koji Uematsu, Michimasa Miyanaga, Keisuke Tanizaki, Hideaki Nakahata, Seiji Nakahata, Takuji Okahisa
  • Publication number: 20150147674
    Abstract: An object is to provide a solid electrolyte laminate that allows a large amount of gas to be supplied to a fuel electrode while having improved strength and a method for manufacturing such a solid electrolyte laminate. A solid electrolyte laminate 1 includes a solid electrolyte layer 2, a first electrode layer 3 disposed on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer 4 disposed on another side of the solid electrolyte layer. At least the first electrode layer, which forms a fuel electrode, includes a bonding layer 3a bonded to the solid electrolyte layer and a porous layer 3b having continuous pores and integrally formed on the bonding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Naho Mizuhara
  • Publication number: 20150044597
    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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Naho Mizuhara, Tetsuya Uda, Donglin Han, Akiko Kuramitsu
  • Publication number: 20150044596
    Abstract: Provided is a solid electrolyte laminate comprising a solid electrolyte layer having proton conductivity and a cathode electrode layer laminated on one side of the solid electrolyte layer and made of lanthanum strontium cobalt oxide (LSC). Also provided is a method for manufacturing the solid electrolyte. This solid electrolyte laminate can further comprise an anode electrode layer made of nickel-yttrium doped barium zirconate (Ni—BZY). This solid electrolyte laminate is suitable for a fuel cell operating in an intermediate temperature range less than or equal to 600° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Naho Mizuhara, Tetsuya Uda, Yohei Noda
  • Publication number: 20150008563
    Abstract: Group-III nitride crystal composites made up of especially processed crystal slices, cut from III-nitride bulk crystal, whose major surfaces are of {1-10±2}, {11-2±2}, {20-2±1} or {22-4±1} orientation, disposed adjoining each other sideways with the major-surface side of each slice facing up, and III-nitride crystal epitaxially present on the major surfaces of the adjoining slices, with the III-nitride crystal containing, as principal impurities, either silicon atoms or oxygen atoms. With x-ray diffraction FWHMs being measured along an axis defined by a <0001> direction of the substrate projected onto either of the major surfaces, FWHM peak regions are present at intervals of 3 to 5 mm width. Also, with threading dislocation density being measured along a <0001> direction of the III-nitride crystal substrate, threading-dislocation-density peak regions are present at the 3 to 5 mm intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Koji Uematsu, Michimasa Miyanaga, Keisuke Tanizaki, Hideaki Nakahata, Seiji Nakahata, Takuji Okahisa
  • Patent number: 8872309
    Abstract: Group-III nitride crystal composites made up of especially processed crystal slices, cut from III-nitride bulk crystal, whose major surfaces are of {1-10±2}, {11-2±2}, {20-2±1} or {22-4±1} orientation, disposed adjoining each other sideways with the major-surface side of each slice facing up, and III-nitride crystal epitaxially present on the major surfaces of the adjoining slices, with the III-nitride crystal containing, as principal impurities, either silicon atoms or oxygen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electronic Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Koji Uematsu, Michimasa Miyanaga, Keisuke Tanizaki, Hideaki Nakahata, Seiji Nakahata, Takuji Okahisa
  • Publication number: 20140175616
    Abstract: Group-III nitride crystal composites made up of especially processed crystal slices, cut from III-nitride bulk crystal, whose major surfaces are of {1-10±2}, {11-2±2}, {20-2±1} or {22-4±1} orientation, disposed adjoining each other sideways with the major-surface side of each slice facing up, and III-nitride crystal epitaxially present on the major surfaces of the adjoining slices, with the III-nitride crystal containing, as principal impurities, either silicon atoms or oxygen atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Koji Uematsu, Michimasa Miyanaga, Keisuke Tanizaki, Hideaki Nakahata, Seiji Nakahata, Takuji Okahisa
  • Patent number: 8709923
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing III-nitride crystal having a major surface of plane orientation other than {0001}, designated by choice, the III-nitride crystal manufacturing method including: a step of slicing III-nitride bulk crystal through a plurality of planes defining a predetermined slice thickness in the direction of the designated plane orientation, to produce a plurality of III-nitride crystal substrates having a major surface of the designated plane orientation; a step of disposing the substrates adjoining each other sideways in a manner such that the major surfaces of the substrates parallel each other and such that any difference in slice thickness between two adjoining III-nitride crystal substrates is not greater than 0.1 mm; and a step of growing III-nitride crystal onto the major surfaces of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Koji Uematsu, Michimasa Miyanaga, Keisuke Tanizaki, Hideaki Nakahata, Seiji Nakahata, Takuji Okahisa
  • Patent number: 8702865
    Abstract: Affords AlxGa1-xN crystal growth methods, as well as AlxGa1-xN crystal substrates, wherein bulk, low-dislocation-density crystals are obtained. The AlxGa1-xN crystal (0<x?1) growth method is a method of growing, by a vapor-phase technique, an AlxGa1-xN crystal (10), characterized by forming, in the growing of the crystal, at least one pit (10p) having a plurality of facets (12) on the major growth plane (11) of the AlxGa1-xN crystal (10), and growing the AlxGa1-xN crystal (10) with the at least one pit (10p) being present, to reduce dislocations in the AlxGa1-xN crystal (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michimasa Miyanaga, Naho Mizuhara, Hideaki Nakahata
  • Patent number: 8591653
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor single-crystal manufacturing device (1) is furnished with: a laser light source (6) making it possible to sublime a source material by directing a laser beam onto the material; a reaction vessel (2) having a laser entry window (5) through which the laser beam output from the laser light source (6) can be transmitted to introduce the beam into the vessel interior, and that is capable of retaining a starting substrate (3) where sublimed source material is recrystallized; and a heater (7) making it possible to heat the starting substrate (3). The laser beam is shone on, to heat and thereby sublime, the source material within the reaction vessel (2), and compound semiconductor single crystal is grown by recrystallizing the sublimed source material onto the starting substrate (3); afterwards the laser beam is employed to separate the compound semiconductor single crystal from the starting substrate (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Issei Satoh, Naho Mizuhara, Keisuke Tanizaki, Michimasa Miyanaga, Takashi Sakurada, Hideaki Nakahata