Patents by Inventor Takahiro HIGASHINO

Takahiro HIGASHINO 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).

  • Patent number: 10505196
    Abstract: In an SOFC, a solid electrolyte layer and an anode are integrated with each other to provide an electrolyte layer-anode assembly. The anode contains a nickel element and a first proton conductor. The first proton conductor is composed of a first perovskite oxide having proton conductivity. The first perovskite oxide has an AXO3-type crystal structure, the A-site containing Ba, the X-site containing Y and at least one selected from the group consisting of Zr and Ce. The nickel element is at least partially in the form of NiO. The anode has a porosity Pa of 10% or more by volume when INi/INiO?0.1, where INi/INiO denotes a relative intensity ratio of the peak intensity INi of metallic Ni to the peak intensity INiO of the NiO in an XRD spectrum of the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Masatoshi Majima, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Chihiro Hiraiwa, Takahiro Higashino, Yohei Noda, Kazunari Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10431840
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Takahiro Higashino, Yohei Noda, Naho Mizuhara, Tatsumi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 10424801
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Higashino, Yohei Noda, Chihiro Hiraiwa, Naho Mizuhara, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Hisao Takeuchi, Masatoshi Majima
  • Patent number: 10374243
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Higashino, Masatoshi Majima, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Naho Mizuhara, Kazuki Okuno, Chihiro Hiraiwa, Yohei Noda, Masahiro Kato
  • Publication number: 20190044159
    Abstract: A porous metal body has a three-dimensional mesh-like structure skeleton and containing at least nickel and tin. The nickel content is 50 mass % or more, and the tin content is 5 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less. The porous metal body has a thickness of 0.10 mm or more and 0.50 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari MIYAMOTO, Tomoyuki AWAZU, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Kazuki OKUNO, Takahiro HIGASHINO
  • Publication number: 20190036131
    Abstract: Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell including a flat-plate-shaped cell structure including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte layer containing a solid oxide, a frame-shaped sealing member disposed so as to surround a periphery of the cathode, the sealing member having a larger outside diameter than the cathode, a first pressing member and a second pressing member that hold the sealing member therebetween, and a flat-plate-shaped cathode current collector adjacent to the cathode, the flat-plate-shaped cathode current collector being formed of a porous metal body having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton, in which the cathode current collector has a peripheral portion that is not opposite the anode, the outer edge portion of a main surface of the sealing member adjacent to the anode faces the first pressing member, the inner edge portion of the main surface of the sealing member adjacent to the anode faces the peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer, the outer edge portion of a main surface of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Kazunari MIYAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10193161
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Noda, Masatoshi Majima, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Naho Mizuhara, Chihiro Hiraiwa, Takahiro Higashino
  • Publication number: 20190006681
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cell structure including a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer, a gas diffusion layer disposed adjacent to the first electrode, and a gas channel plate disposed adjacent to the gas diffusion layer, in which the gas diffusion layer is formed of a porous metal body having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton, the gas channel plate includes a first region including a first channel, a second region including a second channel, and a third region including a third channel, the first channel includes a slit extending from the center of the gas channel plate toward its outer edge at the boundary surface between the first region and the second region, letting the total area of the first channel at the boundary surface be a first opening area S1, letting the total area of the second channel at the boundary surface between the second region and the third region be a second opening area S2, and letting the total area of the third channel at the boundary surface between t
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro HIRAIWA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Toshihiro YOSHIDA, Kazunari MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190006680
    Abstract: In an SOFC, a solid electrolyte layer and an anode are integrated with each other to provide an electrolyte layer-anode assembly. The anode contains a nickel element and a first proton conductor. The first proton conductor is composed of a first perovskite oxide having proton conductivity. The first perovskite oxide has an AXO3-type crystal structure, the A-site containing Ba, the X-site containing Y and at least one selected from the group consisting of Zr and Ce. The nickel element is at least partially in the form of NiO. The anode has a porosity Pa of 10% or more by volume when INi/INiO?0.1, where INi/INiO denotes a relative intensity ratio of the peak intensity INi of metallic Ni to the peak intensity INiO of the NiO in an XRD spectrum of the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naho MIZUHARA, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Kazunari MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190006692
    Abstract: A method for producing a cell structure includes: a step of firing a laminated body of a layer containing an anode material and a layer containing a solid electrolyte material, to obtain a joined body of an anode and a solid electrolyte layer; a step of laminating a layer containing a cathode material on a surface of the solid electrolyte layer, and firing the obtained laminated body to obtain a cathode. The anode material contains a metal oxide Ma1 and a nickel compound. The metal oxide Ma1 is a metal oxide having a perovskite structure represented by A1x1B11-y1M1y1O3-? (wherein: A1 is at least one of Ba, Ca, and Sr; B1 is at least one of Ce and Zr; M1 is at least one of Y, Yb, Er, Ho, Tm, Gd, In, and Sc; 0.85?x1?0.99; 0<y1?0.5; and ? is an oxygen deficiency amount).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Takahiro HIGASHINO, Kazunari MIYAMOTO, Yohei NODA, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Naho MIZUHARA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Hisao TAKEUCHI, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Tetsuya UDA, Donglin HAN
  • Publication number: 20180375114
    Abstract: A proton conductor contains a metal oxide having a perovskite structure and represented by AaBbMcO3-? (wherein: A is at least one of Ba, Ca, and Sr; B is at least one of Ce and Zr; M is at least one of Y, Yb, Er, Ho, Tm, Gd, and Sc; 0.85?a?1; 0.5?b<1; c=1-b; and ? is an oxygen deficiency amount), and a standard deviation in a triangular diagram representing an atomic composition ratio of the A, the B, and the M is not greater than 0.04.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Takahiro HIGASHINO, Yohei NODA, Kazunari MIYAMOTO, Chihiro HIRAIWA, Naho MIZUHARA, Hiromasa TAWARAYAMA, Hisao TAKEUCHI, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Tetsuya UDA, Donglin HAN, Takayuki ONISHI, Yuki OTANI
  • Patent number: 10109866
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Naho Mizuhara, Takahiro Higashino, Yohei Noda
  • Publication number: 20180261853
    Abstract: A porous metal body includes a three-dimensional mesh-like structure consisting of a skeleton, the porous metal body having a flat plate-like external form including a pair of main surfaces and end surfaces that connect the pair of main surfaces to each other, in which the skeleton includes a main metal layer consisting of nickel or a nickel alloy, and an oxide layer on a surface of the main metal layer, in which the oxide layer is not arranged on portions of the surface of the main metal layer included in the pair of main surfaces of the porous metal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki OKUNO, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Tomoyuki AWAZU
  • Publication number: 20180219232
    Abstract: A plate-like porous metal body having a three-dimensional mesh-like structure and containing nickel (Ni). The content of the nickel in the porous metal body is 50% by mass or more. The porous metal body has a thickness of 0.10 mm or more and 0.50 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki OKUNO, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Tomoyuki AWAZU, Masatoshi MAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180205095
    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 adjacent to at least one of the cathode and the anode and having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton; a second porous metal body stacked to be adjacent to the first porous metal body and having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton; and an interconnector adjacent to the second porous metal body. The first porous metal body has a pore size smaller than a pore size of the second porous metal body.
    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: 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
  • 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: 20180030607
    Abstract: A method for producing a nickel alloy porous body includes a step of applying a coating material that contains a nickel alloy powder of nickel and an added metal, the nickel alloy powder having a volume-average particle size of 10 ?m or less, onto a surface of a skeleton of a resin formed body having a three-dimensional mesh-like structure; a step of plating with nickel the surface of the skeleton of the resin formed body onto which the coating material has been applied; a step of removing the resin formed body; and a step of diffusing the added metal into the nickel by a heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOYAMA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki OKUNO, Takahiro HIGASHINO, Tomoyuki AWAZU, Masatoshi MAJIMA, Junichi NISHIMURA, Kengo TSUKAMOTO, Hitoshi TSUCHIDA, Hidetoshi SAITO