Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Kuroha

Tomohiro Kuroha 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: 20210005899
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly of an electrochemical device includes a proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane and an electrode including Ni and an electrolyte material which contains as a primary component, at least one of a first compound having a composition represented by BaZr1-x1M1x1O3 (M1 represents at least one element selected from trivalent elements each having an ion radius of more than 0.720 A° to less than 0.880 A°, and 0<x1<1 holds) and a second compound having a composition represented by BaZr1-x2Tmx2O3 (0<x2<0.3 holds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Kosuke YAMAUCHI, Takehito GOTO, Tomoya KAMATA, Yuichi MIKAMI, Tomohiro KUROHA, Atsuo OKAICHI, Yoichiro TSUJI, Yuji OKUYAMA
  • Patent number: 10826075
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly of an electrochemical device includes a proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane and an electrode including Ni and an electrolyte material which contains as a primary component, at least one of a first compound having a composition represented by BaZr1-x1M1x1O3 (M1 represents at least one element selected from trivalent elements each having an ion radius of more than 0.720 A° to less than 0.880 A°, and 0<x1<1 holds) and a second compound having a composition represented by BaZr1-x2Tmx2O3 (0<x2<0.3 holds).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamauchi, Takehito Goto, Tomoya Kamata, Yuichi Mikami, Tomohiro Kuroha, Atsuo Okaichi, Yoichiro Tsuji, Yuji Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10763531
    Abstract: A proton conductor of the present disclosure has a composition formula of BaaZr1-x-yYbxNiyO3-? (0.95?a?1.05, 0.1?x?0.4, and 0.15?y?0.30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamauchi, Yuichi Mikami, Tomohiro Kuroha, Yuji Okuyama
  • Publication number: 20200124562
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly of the present disclosure includes: an electrode including a composite material containing a metal and a proton-conducting first electrolyte; and an electrolyte layer including a proton-conducting second electrolyte, where the electrode and the electrolyte layer are stacked, and a volume ratio of the metal in the electrode is 57% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: KAORI TAKEUCHI, HIDEAKI MURASE, KOSUKE NUNOO, TOMOHIRO KUROHA
  • Publication number: 20200099084
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack constituted by cells, each of the cells includes a fuel electrode, an air electrode, and an electrolyte, and generate electric power through a reaction of a fuel gas and air, a casing that houses the fuel cell stack, a temperature detector that detects a first temperature, the first temperature is a temperature of the fuel cell stack or inside the casing, and a controller. The controller controls based on the first temperature so as to allow an operation at a first predetermined temperature. The controller controls such that the first temperature reaches a temperature higher than or equal to a second predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. The second predetermined temperature is a temperature at which 475° C. embrittlement that occurs on stainless steel is eliminated. The first predetermined temperature is lower than the second predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: SHIGENORI ONUMA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA
  • Publication number: 20200044272
    Abstract: A cell including: a pair of interconnectors for electrically connecting unit cells; a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between the interconnectors; a pair of current collectors, each of which includes an abutting surface abutting against a corresponding one of the electrode layers and a first base material surface being in contact with a corresponding one of the interconnectors and electrically connecting the corresponding of the electrode layers and the corresponding one of the interconnectors; and elastic bodies biasing the abutting surface of at least one current collector toward a corresponding one of the electrode layers. The elastic bodies includes: a second base material surface being in contact with the first base material surface; and an elastic body protruding portion supporting the abutting surface and protruding from the second base material surface toward the corresponding one of the electrode layers to bias the abutting surface toward the corresponding one of the electrode layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, TOMOYA KAMATA, MASATOSHI NAKAMURA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA
  • Publication number: 20200044263
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell including unit cells, including: a pair of interconnectors for electrically connecting the unit cells; a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrode layers disposed with the electrolyte membrane therebetween; a pair of current collectors disposed between the electrode layers and the interconnectors so as to be in contact with the pair of electrode layers and the pair of interconnectors, respectively, and electrically connecting the pair of electrode layers and the pair of interconnectors; and elastic bodies biasing at least one current collector of the pair of current collectors toward a corresponding electrode layer and made of austenitic stainless steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, TOMOYA KAMATA, MASATOSHI NAKAMURA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA
  • Publication number: 20200028192
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of cells, each of which has a fuel electrode, an air electrode, and an electrolyte, and performs a power generation by a reaction between a fuel gas and air; a fuel supplier supplying the fuel gas to the fuel electrode; an air supplier supplying the air to the air electrode; a voltage detector detecting the voltage of the fuel cell stack; and a controller stopping the supplying of the fuel gas by the fuel supplier and the supplying of the air by the air supplier when the voltage of the fuel cell stack detected by the voltage detector is decreased to be lower than a threshold voltage after the power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: SHIGENORI ONUMA, TAKASHI KAKUWA, YUICHI MIKAMI, TOMOHIRO KUROHA
  • Patent number: 10446866
    Abstract: A proton conductor is a proton conductor represented by a composition formula of BaZr1?x?yYxInyO3, and x and y in the composition formula satisfy 0<y?0.013 and 0<x+y<0.5. A small amount of In is added to the composition in a predetermined range, whereby a resistance of the crystal grain boundary of the proton conductor can be decreased so as to compensate for or even exceed the increase in resistance in the crystal gains of the proton conductor caused by the addition of In, and as a result, the entire resistance can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Kamata, Tomohiro Kuroha, Yukimune Kani, Hiroshige Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20190305332
    Abstract: The fuel cell of the present disclosure includes: a fuel single cell comprising a fuel electrode, an air electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the electrodes; a separator for separating a fuel gas flowing through the fuel electrode and air flowing through the air electrode; and a sealing portion for hermetically bonding between the separator and the electrolyte, wherein the sealing portion is constituted of a glass composition containing at least two of metallic or metalloid elements contained in the electrolyte and at least two of metallic or metalloid elements contained in the separator; the electrolyte includes a proton conductor; and the proton conductor is represented by a compositional formula: BaZr1-xMxO3, where 0.05?x?0.5; and M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sc, In, Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Y, Ho, Dy, and/or Gd.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: SHIGENORI ONUMA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, TAKEHITO GOTO
  • Publication number: 20190305331
    Abstract: The fuel cell of the present disclosure includes: a unit cell including: a fuel electrode, an air electrode and electrolyte disposed between the fuel electrode and the air electrodes; a separator for separating a fuel gas flowing though the fuel electrode and air flowing through the air electrode; and a sealing constituted of a glass composition for bonding the separator and the electrolyte, and at least a surface region of the sealing portion exposed to the fuel gas and the air does not contain Ba.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: TAKEHITO GOTO, SHIGENORI ONUMA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA
  • Publication number: 20190181481
    Abstract: A proton conductor of the present disclosure has a composition formula of BaaZr1-x-yYbxNiyO3-? (0.95?a?1.05, 0.1?x?0.4, and 0.15?y?0.30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: KOSUKE YAMAUCHI, YUICHI MIKAMI, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, YUJI OKUYAMA
  • Patent number: 10164271
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: a unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of separators; a manifold; a gas introducing member; and a first member. A recess is formed at a gas lead-out port side of the gas introducing member so as to be connected to the gas lead-out port. The first member is provided such that a communication portion thereof communicates with the manifold. The gas introducing member is provided such that: the recess communicates with the communication portion; and when viewed from a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the gas lead-out port and a main surface of the first member overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kuroha, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Satoshi Otani, Yasushi Sugawara, Mitsuo Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20180138533
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrode consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide, lanthanum strontium cobalt iron complex oxide, and lanthanum strontium iron complex oxide, or consisting of a composite of the at least one compound and an electrolyte material, and a first solid electrolyte membrane represented by a composition formula of BaZr1?xLuxO3?? (0<x<1). The electrode is in contact with the first solid electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: YUICHI MIKAMI, TAKEHITO GOTO, KOSUKE YAMAUCHI, TOMOYA KAMATA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, YOICHIRO TSUJI
  • Publication number: 20170301925
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly of an electrochemical device includes a proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane and an electrode including Ni and an electrolyte material which contains as a primary component, at least one of a first compound having a composition represented by BaZr1-x1M1x1O3 (M1 represents at least one element selected from trivalent elements each having an ion radius of more than 0.720 A° to less than 0.880 A°, and 0<x1<1 holds) and a second compound having a composition represented by BaZr1-x2Tmx2O3 (0<x2<0.3 holds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: KOSUKE YAMAUCHI, TAKEHITO GOTO, TOMOYA KAMATA, YUICHI MIKAMI, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, ATSUO OKAICHI, YOICHIRO TSUJI, YUJI OKUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170288251
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrode consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide, lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite complex oxide, lanthanum strontium ferrite complex oxide, and lanthanum nickel ferrite complex oxide or consisting of a composite of the compound and an electrolyte material, and a first solid electrolyte membrane represented by a composition formula of BaZr1-xlnxO3?? (0<x<1). The electrode is in contact with the first solid electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: TOMOYA KAMATA, YUICHI MIKAMI, KOSUKE YAMAUCHI, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, ATSUO OKAICHI
  • Publication number: 20170288248
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrode consisting of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide or consisting of a composite of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide and an electrolyte material, and a first solid electrolyte membrane represented by a composition formula of BaZr1-xYbxO3-? (0<x<1). The electrode is in contact with the first solid electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: YUICHI MIKAMI, TOMOYA KAMATA, KOSUKE YAMAUCHI, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, ATSUO OKAICHI
  • Publication number: 20160344054
    Abstract: A proton conductor is a proton conductor represented by a composition formula of BaZr1-x-yYxInyO3, and x and y in the composition formula satisfy 0<y?0.013 and 0<x+y<0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: TOMOYA KAMATA, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, YUKIMUNE KANI, HIROSHIGE MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150295263
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell comprising a cathode, an electrolyte membrane, and an anode. The electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. The cathode is formed of a first proton conductor represented by the following chemical formula Aa(BbMm)O3-x (where A represents a divalent metal, B represents a tetravalent metal, M represents a trivalent metal, 2(3?x)=2a+4b+3m, b+m=1, and x=(3?2a?b)/2) and a mixed ionic electronic conductor. The electrolyte membrane is formed of a second proton conductor represented by the following chemical formula A?a?(B?b?M?m?)O3-x? (where A? represents a divalent metal, B? represents a tetravalent metal, M? represents a trivalent metal, 2(3?x?)=2a?+4b?+3m?, b?+m?=1, and x?=(3?2a??b?)/2). The following mathematical formula m?m? is satisfied. The electric power generation efficiency is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: TOMOHIRO KUROHA, KAZUHITO HATO, TOMOYA KAMATA
  • Patent number: 9157155
    Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (100) includes: a semiconductor electrode (120) including a conductor (121) and semiconductor layers (122, 123) disposed on the conductor (121); a counter electrode (130) connected electrically to the conductor (121); an electrolyte (140) in contact with surfaces of the semiconductor layer (123) and the counter electrode (130); and a container (110) accommodating the semiconductor electrode (120), the counter electrode (130) and the electrolyte (140). A band edge level ECS of a conduction band, a band edge level EVS of a valence band, and a Fermi level EFS in a surface near-field region of the semiconductor layer, and a band edge level ECJ of a conduction band, a band edge level EVJ of a valence band, and a Fermi level EFJ in a junction plane near-field region of the semiconductor layer with the conductor satisfy, relative to a vacuum level, ECS?EFS>ECJ?EFJ, EFS?EVS<EFJ?EVJ, ECJ>?4.44 eV, and EVS<?5.67 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Taniguchi, Kenichi Tokuhiro, Takahiro Suzuki, Tomohiro Kuroha, Takaiki Nomura, Kazuhito Hato, Satoru Tamura