Abstract: Methods are provided for easily obtaining a high performance electrode without using an organic solvent for making an ink of an electrode catalyst or a surfactant for making an ink of a water repellent carbon material. The methods of manufacturing an electrode for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprise (a) a step of adhering a polymer electrolyte or a water repellent material to fine electrically conductive particles, and granulating the electrically conductive particles to obtain multinary granules, and (b) a step of depositing the multinary granules in layer form to obtain a catalyst layer or a water repellent layer of an electrode. Apparatus for manufacturing the electrodes, as well as polymer electrolyte fuel cells using the electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for easily obtaining a high performance electrode without using an organic solvent for making an ink of an electrode catalyst or a surfactant for making an ink of a water repellent carbon material. The methods of manufacturing an electrode for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprise (a) a step of adhering a polymer electrolyte or a water repellent material to fine electrically conductive particles, and granulating the electrically conductive particles to obtain multinary granules, and (b) a step of depositing the multinary granules in layer form to obtain a catalyst layer or a water repellent layer of an electrode. Apparatus for manufacturing the electrodes, as well as polymer electrolyte fuel cells using the electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional display device, which can display a 3D image of higher quality than a conventional one by arranging a parallax barrier layer with higher positioning accuracy, and a method for fabricating such a display device. The three-dimensional display device 100 includes a first substrate 11, which is provided closer to the viewer and which is made of a transparent material, a second substrate 21 arranged so as to face the first substrate 11, a liquid crystal layer 30 provided between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21, and a parallax barrier layer 12 provided on the surface of the first substrate so as to face the viewer. A polarizer 40 is further provided on the surface of the viewer-side substrate 10 that includes the parallax barrier layer 12 thereon.

Abstract: A fuel cell having high operation performance and reliability is provided by optimizing the shape and properties of a gas diffusion layer and the dimensions of a gas flow channel. The fuel cell evenly supplies a reaction gas to the catalyst of a catalyst layer and promptly discharges excessive water generated therein. The gas diffusion layer of the MEA comprises a first section having a surface A coming in direct contact with a separator plate and a second section having a surface B facing the gas flow channel of the separator plate. The porosity of the first section is lower than the porosity of the second section, and the second section protrudes into the gas flow channel, which has sufficient width and depth for the protrusion of the gas diffusion layer, and the width of a rib formed by the gas flow channel is sufficiently narrow.

Abstract: A liquid crystal sealant comprising an epoxy resin represented by the following formula (1): [Formula 1] (in the formula, n denotes an average polymerization degree and is a positive number of 0-5) as a resin component, a curing agent, a curing accelerator and an inorganic filler is excellent in screen printability as a liquid crystal sealant in making a liquid crystal display device and can provide excellent reliability in moisture resistance for the liquid crystal display device obtained).

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising the stack having a gas distribution means of guiding reaction gas into electrodes of respective single cells, the gas supplying sections for supplying the reaction gas to the stack, the gas humidifying section for humidifying the reaction gas which are disposed between the gas supplying sections and the electrode inlet of the gas distribution means, and the controlling section for controlling the water vapor content of the reaction gas supplied at least to one of the electrodes so as to exceed the saturated water vapor content at the temperature of at least one of the electrode inlets of the gas distribution means.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell has an MEA-gasket assembly including an MEA having a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst layers, and a pair of gas diffusion electrodes, and a pair of gaskets provided on peripheral portions of surfaces on both sides of the MEA with gaps between the respectively adjacent gaskets and gas diffusion electrodes. A pair of electrically conductive separators is disposed to sandwich the MEA-gasket assembly with groove-shaped cell reaction gas passages on inner surfaces of the separators, each of the cell reaction gas passages running sequentially across a first portion of a respective gasket of the pair of gaskets, a first portion of a respective gap of the gaps, a respective gas diffusion electrode of the pair of gas diffusion electrodes, a second portion of the respective gap, and a second portion of the respective gasket. Each of the gaps is at least partially closed by a closure.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack that includes a cell laminate having a plurality of unit cells, which are laid one upon another and each of which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes arranged across the polymer electrolyte membrane and having respective catalytic reaction layers, a separator having means for feeding a supply of fuel gas containing hydrogen gas to one of the electrodes, another separator having means for feeding a supply of oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, and a manifold for feeding the supply of fuel gas or the supply of oxidant gas to the respective electrode and disposed on a side face of each unit cell. In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, a sealing portion is disposed at least in the vicinity of each electrode. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack has excellent durability and productivity.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell system is disclosed, comprising a fuel cell having a predetermined power generation portion configured to operate at a predetermined temperature to generate an electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas supplied to said fuel cell, and a humidifier configured to humidify the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas, wherein the humidifier is configured to humidify the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas to allow the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas to have dew points higher than the predetermined temperature, the humidified fuel gas and oxidizing gas having the dew points higher than the operating temperature being supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, a pair of conductive separator plates sandwiching the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, and a pair of sealing means sealing between the electrodes of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and the separator plates. The pair of sealing means is constituted by combination of a flat sealing member having a flat portion in flat contact with the electrolyte membrane and of a linear sealing member having a rib in linear contact with the electrolyte membrane, and at least part of the rib is in the form of falling in the direction to the electrode when the electrolyte membrane, the pair of electrodes and the pair of separator plates are stacked to be cramped. This makes it possible for the fuel cell to have an excellent sealing property and a stable output characteristic.

Abstract: The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is equipped with a cell having an MEA having a hydrogen ion-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a platelike anode-side separator positioned on one side of the MEA so that the front surface thereof contacts the anode, with fuel gas passages through which fuel gas flows being formed in the front surface; and a platelike cathode-side separator positioned on the other side of the MEA so that the front surface thereof contacts the cathode, with oxidizing gas passages through which oxidizing gas flows being formed in the front surface; a cell stack in which a plurality of said cells is stacked; and a cooling water flow passage, through which cooling water flows, formed on at least the rear surface of one from among the anode-side separator and the cathode-side separator of at least a prescribed cell in said cell stack; where said fuel gas, oxidizing gas, and cooling water flow thro

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack that includes a cell laminate having a plurality of unit cells, which are laid one upon another and each of which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes arranged across the polymer electrolyte membrane and having respective catalytic reaction layers, a separator having means for feeding a supply of fuel gas containing hydrogen gas to one of the electrodes, another separator having means for feeding a supply of oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, and a manifold for feeding the supply of fuel gas or the supply of oxidant gas to the respective electrode and disposed on a side face of each unit cell. In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, a sealing portion is disposed at least in the vicinity of each electrode. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack has excellent durability and productivity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an operation method for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in an optimum operating condition by regulating the cell by a function represented by a gas flow rate and the difference between a saturated steam pressure and an actual steam pressure, by regulating an in-plane temperature distribution obtained by a cooling water flow direction and by the regulations of a cooling water inlet temperature and a cooling water flow amount; a gas supply amount; a supplied moisture amount; and a current density.

Abstract: An operation method is provided for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in an optimum operating condition by regulating the cell by a function represented by a gas flow rate and the difference between a saturated steam pressure and an actual steam pressure, by regulating an in-plane temperature distribution obtained by a cooling water flow direction and by the regulation of a cooling water inlet temperature and a cooling water flow amount; a gas supply amount; a supplied moisture amount; and a current density.

Abstract: A configuration of an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell is provided, which can be sealed reliably and easily between the separators. The sealing configuration is between the separators and between a peripheral portion of the electrolyte membrane and the respective separators. The sealing configuration includes a frame having an elastic modulus of greater than about 2,000 MPa and less than about 2,000,000 MPa and an elastic body having an elastic modulus of greater than 0 MPa and less than about 200 MPa. In one embodiment, the separators or portions thereof may themselves constitute the at least one elastic body. In another embodiment, the electrolyte membrane may be held by two frames lying on opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane, with the at least one elastic body arranged between the first and second frames sandwiching the membrane and also between the frames and the respective separators.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack includes cells having separators that can be supplied fuel or oxidant either in series or in parallel is disclosed. At high power loads the cells are operated in parallel, and at low power load the cells are operated in series. Advantageously, operating the cells in series at low power loading allows high gas flows thereby minimizing water condensation and improving the stability and performance of the cell stack during low load operation. Individual cells include a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by a pair of electrodes, which in turn are sandwiched by a pair of electrically conductive separators. The separators have gas channels on their surfaces to supply oxidant gas and fuel gas to the cathode and anode, respectively, that can be manipulated to operate in parallel or series.

Abstract: A highly reliable polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an anode-side separator plate and a cathode-side separator plate that are provided with an anode-side sealing member and a cathode-side sealing member, respectively. The anode-side and cathode-side sealing members seal the cell in cooperation with a polymer electrolyte membrane at sealing parts where the anode-side and cathode-side sealing members are opposed to each other, thereby preventing gas from leaking out of gas flow channels. One of the anode-side and cathode-side sealing members has a pointed rib that comes in contact with the sealing parts in a linear manner, and the other sealing member comes in contact with the sealing parts surface to surface.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a plurality of conductive separator plates, each comprising a corrugated metal plate; an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly inserted between the separator plates, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly including a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane having its periphery covered with a gasket, an anode attached to one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode attached to the other side of the electrolyte membrane; and gas charge and discharge means for charging and discharging a fuel gas and an oxidant gas to and from the anode and the cathode, respectively, wherein the gas charge and discharge means charges and discharges the fuel gas to and from the anode through the grooves on one side of the corrugated metal plate and charges and discharges the oxidant gas to and from the cathode through the grooves on the other side of the corrugated metal plate.

Abstract: A separator plate for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent conductivity and moldability is provided. The separator plate is injection molded, using different compounds for molding the portion that requires conductivity and the portion that does not require conductivity. The separator plate comprises: an electronic conductor portion containing conductive carbon; and an insulating portion surrounding the electronic conductor portion. The electronic conductor portion has a first flow channel of a gas or cooling water on one side and has a second flow channel of a gas or cooling water on the other side.

Abstract: A fuel cell having high operation performance and reliability is provided by optimizing the shape and properties of a gas diffusion layer and the dimensions of a gas flow channel. The fuel cell is capable of evenly supplying a reaction gas to the catalyst of a catalyst layer and promptly discharging excessive water generated therein. The gas diffusion layer of the MEA of this fuel cell comprises a first section having a surface A that comes in direct contact with a separator plate and a second section having a surface B that faces the gas flow channel of the separator plate. The porosity of the first section is lower than the porosity of the second section, and the second section protrudes into the gas flow channel. The gas flow channel has sufficient width and depth for the protrusion of the gas diffusion layer, and the width of a rib formed by the gas flow channel is sufficiently narrow.