Abstract: A metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes a single cell element having a solid electrolyte and fuel and air electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the solid electrolyte and a metal plate bonded by a brazing material to the single cell element. The metal plate contains Ti and Al and has an Al—Ti-containing oxide layer present on a surface of the metal plate, an Al oxide film present on a surface of the Al—Ti-containing oxide layer and a Ti-containing phase apart from a part of a surface of the Al oxide film in contact with the brazing material while being present on a remaining part of the surface of the Al oxide film. The metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit has a Ti reaction phase formed at an interface between the solid electrolyte and the brazing material.

Abstract: A separator-fitted single fuel cell having a single fuel cell, a plate-shaped metallic separator that includes a through hole, and a joint portion that joins the single fuel cell to the metallic separator and is made of a brazing material containing Ag. The joint portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes from a gap between the single fuel cell and the first main surface of the metallic separator toward the through hole. The protruding portion is lower than the second main surface as viewed from the single fuel cell. The single fuel cell includes a sealing portion that is disposed along the entire circumference of the through hole of the metallic separator, covers the protruding portion and a part of the second main surface, and is made of a sealing material containing glass.

Abstract: A metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes a single cell element having a solid electrolyte and fuel and air electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the solid electrolyte and a metal plate bonded by a brazing material to the single cell element. The metal plate contains Ti and Al and has an Al-Ti-containing oxide layer present on a surface of the metal plate, an Al oxide film present on a surface of the Al-Ti-containing oxide layer and a Ti-containing phase apart from a part of a surface of the Al oxide film in contact with the brazing material while being present on a remaining part of the surface of the Al oxide film. The metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit has a Ti reaction phase formed at an interface between the solid electrolyte and the brazing material.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a fuel cell body and an inter-connector. The inter-connector has a base portion and a plurality of projecting portions projecting from the base portion toward the fuel cell body and electrically connected to the fuel cell body, and is integrally formed from a metallic material. Each of the projecting portions has a contour composed of a pair of linear portions which are disposed parallel to each other and each of which includes a straight line, and a pair of curved portions which connect opposite ends of the linear portions.

Abstract: A separator-fitted single fuel cell having a single fuel cell, a plate-shaped metallic separator that includes a through hole, and a joint portion that joins the single fuel cell to the metallic separator and is made of a brazing material containing Ag. The joint portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes from a gap between the single fuel cell and the first main surface of the metallic separator toward the through hole. The protruding portion is lower than the second main surface as viewed from the single fuel cell. The single fuel cell includes a sealing portion that is disposed along the entire circumference of the through hole of the metallic separator, covers the protruding portion and a part of the second main surface, and is made of a sealing material containing glass.

Abstract: A fuel battery cell includes, between a pair of upper and lower interconnectors, a gas sealing part in an air-electrode side, a separator, a fuel electrode frame, and a gas sealing part in a fuel-electrode side. The gas sealing part includes a first gas flowing path penetrating therethrough in a stacking direction of the fuel battery cell to constitute a part of gas flowing paths, and a second gas flowing path extending along a plane direction of the gas sealing part. In the gas sealing part, the first and second gas flowing paths do not communicate with each other. A third gas flowing path is formed in a member stacked on at least one of both sides of the gas sealing part in a thickness direction of the gas sealing part. Through the third gas flowing path, the first and second gas flowing paths communicate with each other.

Abstract: [Means for Solution] A solid oxide fuel cell apparatus including a fuel cell having a plate-shaped first solid electrolyte, an anode provided on one side of the first solid electrolyte and coming in contact with fuel gas, and a cathode provided on the other side of the first solid electrolyte and coming in contact with oxidizer gas. The solid oxide fuel cell apparatus further includes a cell-follow-up deformation member located on at least one of opposite sides of the fuel cell with respect to a first stacking direction along which the anode, the first solid electrolyte, and the cathode are stacked together. The cell-follow-up deformation member deforms according to a deformation of the fuel cell on the basis of at least one of physical quantities including differential thermal expansion coefficient and differential pressure.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a fuel cell body and an inter-connector. The inter-connector has a base portion and a plurality of projecting portions projecting from the base portion toward the fuel cell body and electrically connected to the fuel cell body, and is integrally formed from a metallic material. Each of the projecting portions has a contour composed of a pair of linear portions which are disposed parallel to each other and each of which includes a straight line, and a pair of curved portions which connect opposite ends of the linear portions.

Abstract: A fuel battery cell includes, between a pair of upper and lower interconnectors, a gas sealing part in an air-electrode side, a separator, a fuel electrode frame, and a gas sealing part in a fuel-electrode side. The gas sealing part includes a first gas flowing path penetrating therethrough in a stacking direction of the fuel battery cell to constitute a part of gas flowing paths, and a second gas flowing path extending along a plane direction of the gas sealing part. In the gas sealing part, the first and second gas flowing paths do not communicate with each other. A third gas flowing path is formed in a member stacked on at least one of both sides of the gas sealing part in a thickness direction of the gas sealing part. Through the third gas flowing path, the first and second gas flowing paths communicate with each other.

Abstract: [Means for Solution] A solid oxide fuel cell apparatus including a fuel cell having a plate-shaped first solid electrolyte, an anode provided on one side of the first solid electrolyte and coming in contact with fuel gas, and a cathode provided on the other side of the first solid electrolyte and coming in contact with oxidizer gas. The solid oxide fuel cell apparatus further includes a cell-follow-up deformation member located on at least one of opposite sides of the fuel cell with respect to a first stacking direction along which the anode, the first solid electrolyte, and the cathode are stacked together. The cell-follow-up deformation member deforms according to a deformation of the fuel cell on the basis of at least one of physical quantities including differential thermal expansion coefficient and differential pressure.

Abstract: After subjected to a developing process, a rinsing process and a replacing process in this order in a developing unit 10A, 10B, a substrate W wet with an anti-drying solution is wet-transported to a supercritical drying unit 20 by a primary transport robot 30. The supercritical drying unit 20 performs a high-pressure drying process (supercritical drying process) in a dedicated manner. Accordingly, by virtue of the presence of the anti-drying solution, the substrate W is effectively prevented from becoming air-dry during the transportation of the substrate W.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a first base member having a first substrate provided with a light-transmitting property, a light-transmitting conductive layer formed on a surface of the first substrate and a semiconductor electrode formed on a surface of the light-transmitting conductive layer and containing a sensitizing dye; a second base member having a second substrate and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the second substrate in such a manner that the catalyst layer faces the semiconductor electrode; an electrolyte layer formed between the semiconductor electrode and the catalyst layer; and either a collector electrode containing tungsten or a pair of collector electrodes, at least one of which contains tungsten, to collect charge from the semiconductor electrode.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising: a first base member having a light-transmitting substrate, a light-transmitting conductive layer formed on a surface of the light-transmitting substrate and a semiconductor electrode formed on a surface of the light-transmitting conductive layer and containing a sensitizing dye; a second base member having a ceramic substrate and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the ceramic substrate in such a manner that the catalyst layer faces the semiconductor electrode; and an electrolyte layer formed between the semiconductor electrode and the catalyst layer. The dye-sensitized solar cell of the first aspect of the present invention shows a sufficient power generation efficiency and excellent durability.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dye-sensitized solar cell including: a first substrate having a light-transmitting property; a semiconductor electrode containing a sensitizing dye and arranged with a first surface thereof facing the first substrate; a first collector electrode arranged on a second surface of the semiconductor electrode; an insulating layer arranged in contact with the first collector electrode; a catalytic electrode layer arranged with a first surface thereof facing the insulating layer; a second substrate arranged on a second surface of the catalytic electrode layer; and an electrolyte material incorporated in the semiconductor electrode, the first collector electrode and the insulating layer. This dye-sensitized solar cell becomes lower in internal resistance without the need to provide a light-transmitting collector electrode and the like to the light-transmitting first substrate on the light incident side.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dye-sensitized solar cell including a first base member having a first light-transmitting substrate, a light-transmitting conductive layer formed on a surface of the first substrate, a first semiconductor electrode containing a sensitizing dye and arranged on a surface of the conductive layer, a second semiconductor electrode containing a sensitizing dye and arranged with a first surface thereof facing the first semiconductor electrode, a first collector electrode formed on a second surface of the second semiconductor electrode and an electrolyte layer arranged between the first and second semiconductor electrodes, a porous insulating layer arranged in contact with the second semiconductor electrode and the first collector electrode or with the first collector electrode, and a second base member having a second substrate and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the second substrate and facing the porous insulating layer.

Abstract: An ohmic electrode for an SiC semiconductor includes a p-type Si layer formed on the surface of a p-type SiC semiconductor, and a metal silicide layer formed on the surface of the Si layer, the metal silicide layer being formed from a metal silicide such as PtSi. The p-type Si layer is preferably formed from p-type Si having a carrier concentration equal to or higher than that of the aforementioned p-type SiC. Preferably, the ohmic electrode is formed as follows: deposition of Si is performed; deposition of a metal silicide is performed by means of laser ablation; laser irradiation is performed to thereby improve ohmic properties and enhance adhesion between the result deposition layer and the p-type SiC semiconductor, and then further deposition of the metal silicide is performed by means of laser ablation.

Abstract: After subjected to a developing process, a rinsing process and a replacing process in this order in a developing unit 10A, 10B, a substrate W wet with an anti-drying solution is wet-transported to a supercritical drying unit 20 by a primary transport robot 30. The supercritical drying unit 20 performs a high-pressure drying process (supercritical drying process) in a dedicated manner. Accordingly, by virtue of the presence of the anti-drying solution, the substrate W is effectively prevented from becoming air-dry during the transportation of the substrate W.

Abstract: An ohmic electrode for an SiC semiconductor includes a p-type Si layer formed on the surface of a p-type SiC semiconductor, and a metal silicide layer formed on the surface of the Si layer, the metal silicide layer being formed from a metal silicide such as PtSi. The p-type Si layer is preferably formed from p-type Si having a carrier concentration equal to or higher than that of the aforementioned p-type SiC. Preferably, the ohmic electrode is formed as follows: deposition of Si is performed; deposition of a metal silicide is performed by means of laser ablation; laser irradiation is performed to thereby improve ohmic properties and enhance adhesion between the resultant deposition layer and the p-type SiC semiconductor; and then further deposition of the metal silicide is performed by means of laser ablation.

Abstract: A gas sensor having a pn junction including two discrete electrical conductive-type layers, namely, a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, disposed in contact with each other. Ohmic electrodes are formed on the respective surfaces of the semiconductor layers. A catalytic layer containing a metallic catalytic component which dissociates hydrogen atom from a molecule having hydrogen atom is formed on one of the ohmic electrodes. The pn junction diode-type gas sensor has a simple constitution, exhibits a small change in diode characteristics with time in long-term service and is capable of detecting a gas concentration of a molecule having a hydrogen atom, for example, H2, NH3, H2S, a hydrocarbon and the like, contained in a sample gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid electric wire having a small resistance value and a low resistance increase rate at high frequency. A solid electric wire T has a structure in which a plurality of unit wires S are regularly confounded. Each of the unit wires S repeatedly extends inside and outside the electric wire, with a twist direction changed on the basis of a predetermined period. Accordingly, all or most of the unit wires cross each other, and a very large number of cross points are thus created. This reduces the effects of magnetic lines of force on the interaction between the unit wires. This in turn reduces a value for resistance to a high frequency current and the rate of increase in resistance associated with an increase in frequency. Moreover, the regular confounding structure of the unit wires advantageously leads to stable quality.