Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve the problems with conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cells and provide a proton conducting membrane which exhibits an excellent heat resistance and an excellent protonic conductivity and a high dimensional stability even at high temperatures, a method for producing the same and a fuel cell using the same. The proton conducting membrane of the present invention is a proton conducting membrane having particles 1 comprising a metal-oxygen crosslinked structure and the particles 1 have an acid group such as sulfonic acid group incorporated in the surface thereof and form a continuity. The gap 2 between the particles is communicated from the main surface to the opposite surface of the proton conducting membrane to form a proton conducting channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separation membrane for direct liquid fuel cells, which is composed of a quaternary ammonium-type anion exchange membrane. The quaternary ammonium-type anion exchange membrane is produced as follows: a polymerizable composition containing a styrene having a haloalkyl group, a crosslinking polymerizable monomer, a compound having an epoxy group and an effective amount of a polymerization initiator is brought into contact with a porous film, so that the pores of the porous film are filled with the polymerizable composition that is then polymerized therein; then a quaternary ammonium group is introduced into the bromoalkyl group; and then the counter ion of the quaternary ammonium group is ion-exchanged into a hydroxide ion. Also disclosed is a method for producing the quaternary ammonium-type anion exchange membrane.

Abstract: Abiotic fuel cell and battery designs employing chemical dyes in alkaline solutions are disclosed. The fuel cells and batteries are capable of harnessing electrical power from various carbohydrates, including, but not limited to, glucose; in an anode design that does not require catalysts or membranes to separate half-cell reaction chambers. In certain embodiments, the abiotic fuel cell or battery designs may further employ electrodes, such as high surface area carbon materials and commercial air breathing electrodes, without the use of catalysts for glucose oxidation (i.e., precious metals or biocatalytic species). In further embodiments, organic dyes, including but not limited to, methyl viologen (MV), methylene blue, methylene green, Meldola's blue, indigo carmine, safranin O, and the like, may serve as the electron mediators. In some embodiments, the fuel cells or batteries are capable of generating power on the order of about tens of mW/cm2 from glucose and/or other types of sugars.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a method of conduction including the steps of providing a quaternary ammonium compound, and causing the quaternary ammonium compound to conduct ionically.

Abstract: An example fuel cell assembly includes a separator plate. Non-porous and hydrophobic flow field layers are associated with the separator plate. An electrolyte retaining matrix comprises silicon carbide powder and has a mean particle size of about 3 microns and a thickness of about 0.05 mm Hydrophilic substrates are associated with catalyst layers. The hydrophilic substrates are about 70% porous and have a void volume that is about 40% filled with transferable phosphoric acid in an initial condition. A condensation zone cools a vapor passing from the assembly to less than about 140° C.

Abstract: A cathode includes a diffusion layer, and a porous catalyst layer provided on the diffusion layer. The porous catalyst layer has a thickness not greater than 60 ?m, a porosity of 30 to 70% and a pore diameter distribution including a peak in a range of 20 to 200 nm of a pore diameter. A volume of pores having a diameter of 20 to 200 nm is not less than 50% of a pore volume of the porous catalyst layer. The porous catalyst layer contains a supported catalyst comprising 10 to 30% by weight of a fibrous supported catalyst and 70 to 90% by weight of a granular supported catalyst. The fibrous supported catalyst includes a carbon nanofiber having a herringbone structure or a platelet structure. The granular supported catalyst includes a carbon black having 200 to 600 mL/100 g of a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption value.

Abstract: A composition useful for the fueling and refueling of electrochemical devices is described. The composition comprises an ion-conducting medium such as an electrolyte, and catalyst nanoparticles. Unlike traditional electrodes, such as those typically used in electrolyzers and fuel cells, the inventive composition may be quickly drained from the device and refilled to maintain maximum cell performance. In addition, the electro-catalytic charging composition can be stored as a solid for safe handling; for example in a portable cartridge.

Abstract: A crosslinked aromatic polymer which is produced by a process comprising a reaction step of reacting an aromatic monomer having an ion exchange group of the following general formula (1) and a poly-functional aromatic monomer of the following general formula (2) in a solvent, thereby generating a gel swollen with the solvent: wherein, in the formulae, Ar1 represents a (2+n)-valent aromatic group, Ar2 represents a (3+p)-valent aromatic group, Q represents an ion exchange group, X1 represents a functional group condensable with X1 or X2, X2 represents a functional group condensable with X1 or X2, n represents an integer of 1 or more, p represents an integer of 0 or more, and in this connection a plurality of X1's and X2's may be the same as or different from each other, respectively.