Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving a catalyst applied to a reaction layer having a structure (PFF structure) in which a polymer electrolyte phase surrounds a periphery of a catalyst with a hydrophilic region interposed therebetween and reducing the amount of catalyst metal particles used. A method for producing a catalyst for a fuel cell, in which a catalyst metal particle is supported on a carrier, includes the steps of: preparing an unmodified catalyst in which a catalyst metal particles is supported on a carrier; and modifying the catalyst metal particle in the unmodified catalyst with at least one type of modifying group selected from a nitric acid group, an amino group, a sulfonic acid group, a hydroxy group, and halogen groups.

Abstract: A reaction layer for a fuel cell, which is interposed between a solid electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer in the fuel cell, the reaction layer including a first layer that is in contact with the solid electrolyte membrane, a second layer that is in contact with the diffusion layer; and an intermediate layer that is interposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer have a catalyst supported by an electrically conductive support, and the intermediate layer has no catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to efficiently utilize catalyst metal particles of a catalyst by fuel cell reaction. In a PFF structure in which a hydrophilic region is formed between the surface of a catalyst and an electrolyte, water is confined within the layer of the electrolyte, therefore by modifying the surface of a carrier by an acidic functional group, particularly by a sulfonic acid group, this acidic functional group is always in contact with the water, and thus protons are supplied therefrom into the water. Consequently, even in an environment, for example, in a micropore of the catalyst, into which the electrolyte cannot get, the protons from the acidic functional group are supplied to catalyst metal particles present at the peripheral surface of the micropore, and the catalyst metal particles contribute to fuel cell reaction.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to grasp the state in which hydrophilic groups of an electrolyte are distributed in a reaction layer for fuel cells. Nitric acid groups are bonded to hydrophilic groups (sulfonic acid groups) contained in a reaction layer for fuel cells, and metal ions capable of forming a nitrosyl complex with the nitric acid groups, e.g., ruthenium ions, are introduced into the reaction layer to dye the nitric acid groups bonded to the hydrophilic groups contained in the reaction layer. When the hydrophilic groups have agglomerated, the nitric acid groups bonded thereto also agglomerate. When said nitric acid groups are dyed with ruthenium, the ruthenium also agglomerates to make it possible to examine said nitric acid groups with an electron microscope.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a fuel cell catalyst layer forming a catalyst layer by a catalyst paste, the apparatus including a device for removal of water to obtain a polyelectrolyte solution by reducing, to a predetermined value or less, the concentration of water in a pre-solution in which a polyelectrolyte having a side chain including a hydrophilic functional group is dissolved in a solvent; and an agitator means for obtaining the catalyst paste by mixing a pre-paste obtained by mixing a catalyst with water and the polyelectrolyte solution.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a fuel cell catalyst layer forming a catalyst layer by a catalyst paste, the apparatus including a device for removal of water to obtain a polyelectrolyte solution by reducing, to a predetermined value or less, the concentration of water in a pre-solution in which a polyelectrolyte having a side chain including a hydrophilic functional group is dissolved in a solvent; and an agitator means for obtaining the catalyst paste by mixing a pre-paste obtained by mixing a catalyst with water and the polyelectrolyte solution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving a catalyst applied to a reaction layer having a structure (PFF structure) in which a polymer electrolyte phase surrounds a periphery of a catalyst with a hydrophilic region interposed therebetween and reducing the amount of catalyst metal particles used. A method for producing a catalyst for a fuel cell, in which a catalyst metal particle is supported on a carrier, includes the steps of: preparing an unmodified catalyst in which a catalyst metal particles is supported on a carrier; and modifying the catalyst metal particle in the unmodified catalyst with at least one type of modifying group selected from a nitric acid group, an amino group, a sulfonic acid group, a hydroxy group, and halogen groups.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a body, a wheel rotatably supported and coaxially disposed on the body, and an occupant riding portion supported by the body. The motor vehicle is provided with a body attitude detector for detecting an attitude of the body and a body attitude controller for controlling the body attitude detected by the body attitude detector, wherein, in response to an inertial force or a centrifugal force generated by acceleration, deceleration or a turning motion of the motor vehicle, the occupant riding portion is moved so as to balance the inertial force or the centrifugal force. The motor vehicle further includes an occupant attitude controller for controlling an attitude of the occupant riding portion in accordance with a detection value detected by the body attitude detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell reaction layer which is excellent in durability and heat resistance while having a low operation temperature. In addition, supply of an oxygen gas to the fuel cell reaction layer is hardly disturbed. Also disclosed are a fuel cell and a method for producing such a fuel cell reaction layer. Specifically disclosed is a fuel cell reaction layer wherein a mixed conductive catalyst is used. The mixed conductive catalyst includes a conductive carrier composed of an electron conductor formed of carbon and a proton conductor formed of an inorganic material. The electron conductor is an inorganic material comprising a polymerized and carbonized organic monomer: the proton conductor is an inorganic material, and the electron conductor and the proton conductor are bonded together. In addition, a water-repellent carbon is further blended in this fuel cell reaction layer.

Abstract: During vehicle operation, drive wheels are constantly monitored to see whether or not slip of drive wheels occurs and when slip is detected, posture control for slip conditions is performed by uncoupling normal posture control for the drive wheels. A balancer (weight body) which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is provided, and posture control is performed by moving the balancer backward when the vehicle inclines forward due to slip and moving the balancer forward when the vehicle inclines backward. The detection of slip is through a comparison between the drive wheels circumferential speed V2 and a vehicle running speed V1.

Abstract: Enabled is to lighten the load on a rider and to make the rider senses a turning state at the turning time of a transverse two-wheeled vehicle. A transverse acceleration (a) at a turn controlling time is detected to make a next inclination control in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration. (a) In the case of an acceleration (a)?a predetermined threshold (a0), the vehicle is left uninclined to prevent the vehicle body from being unnecessarily inclined and rocked against a small centrifugal force, thereby to improve the riding comfortableness. (b) In the case of the acceleration (a)>the threshold (a0), a riding portion is inclined such that the inclination angle ?1 may become the larger as the acceleration (a) becomes the higher. This can reduce the load on the rider against the centrifugal force.

Abstract: The disclosed vehicle has posture control of an inverted pendulum which provides good riding comfort. A balancer target position ?* (calculated value) is determined according to target acceleration ?* indicated by an occupant. Driving thrust SB of a balancer 134 is determined by state feedback control so that a current balance position ? (measured value) becomes closer to the determined balancer target position ?*, and the balancer 134 is driven. An output ?W of a driving wheel actuator 52 is determined from the current balancer position ? (measured value) resulting from driving of the balancer 134. Since a driving torque is determined from an actual position of the balancer 134, stable upright posture control can be implemented even in a transient state which lasts until the balancer 134 reaches the target position.

Abstract: A reaction layer for a fuel cell, which is interposed between a solid electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer in the fuel cell, the reaction layer including a first layer that is in contact with the solid electrolyte membrane, a second layer that is in contact with the diffusion layer; and an intermediate layer that is interposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer have a catalyst supported by an electrically conductive support, and the intermediate layer has no catalyst.

Abstract: A surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion of a separator in a fuel cell stack is made to have water repellency, so that water accumulated in a fuel gas flow path can be appropriately discharged, and thus so that reduction in fuel cell performance and deterioration of the fuel electrode can be surely prevented. For that purpose, in a fuel cell device, a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode includes a cell module laminated so as to interpose a separator formed with the fuel gas flow path along the fuel electrode, and a fuel gas flows substantially perpendicularly to the direction of gravity in the fuel gas flow path. The separator is provided with a water-repellent surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion thereof.

Abstract: The center of gravity of a vehicle is estimated to obtain, a limit lateral acceleration alim (=aMin, aMax), and the vehicle turns in a target running state (V*, ?*) requested by an occupant provided the lateral acceleration a* does not exceed the limit lateral acceleration alim. On the other hand, if the requested running state (V*, ?*) exceeds the limit lateral acceleration aaim, an ideal target running state (V*, ?*) is limited to an actual target running state (V*˜, ?*˜) so that the lateral acceleration a* equals to the limit lateral acceleration aaim. Because turning speed and turning curvature are not limited more than necessary, it is possible to achieve maximum use of turning performance of the vehicle up to the limit thereof.

Abstract: By bending and stretching a link mechanism, both left and right wheels of a vehicle can be inclined toward inside of cornering to generate a camber thrust as a lateral force, i.e. an increase in cornering force. Further, by bending and stretching the link mechanism, the passenger compartment can be inclined in accordance with inclination of a connecting link, and thus the center of gravity of the vehicle can be moved toward its inner wheel during cornering. By preventing lifting of the inner wheel during cornering, cornering performance is improved. Because the passenger compartment is inclined toward the inner wheel during cornering, centrifugal force is less likely to be felt by the occupant.

Abstract: To provide a vehicle which can move independently as an own independent vehicle and can run integrally in linkage with another vehicle. A plurality of single-seat vehicles which can move independently are combined and they move integrally while a predetermined formation is maintained through linkage among respective vehicles. One of all the vehicles moving in linkage serves as a host vehicle and an occupant in the host vehicle becomes a driver in the linkage moving. A host vehicle 1 runs with speed/direction according to running operation conducted by an occupant. Simultaneously therewith, the host vehicle 1 instructs following vehicles 2 to 4 to synchronize (follow) the host vehicle. The host vehicle 1 transmits a speed, a direction, and a relative position to the host vehicle to the following vehicles 2 to 4 as moving information in order to synchronize the following vehicles with the host vehicle (maintain linkage relationship).

Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell, which is inserted between single cells, each single cell having an electrolyte sandwiched between electrodes, in order to stack the single cells together, includes gas diffusion portions which are arranged so as to cover a surface of the electrodes and in which are formed multiple air holes for gas diffusion, and spacer portions which form parallel divided gas passages on the back side of portions of the gas diffusion portions which cover the surface of the electrodes. The gas diffusion portions and the spacer portions are integrally formed by bending a wire mesh member to have a rectangular corrugated plate shaped cross-section. As a result, the air holes are formed evenly between the electrodes and the separator and high contact pressure is ensured by the contact of the fine wire mesh, thereby making it possible to both have the gas diffuse evenly and reduce the power collection resistance.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator (10B) interposed between adjacent unit cells (10A). A mixed fluid of air and water is supplied to an air electrode (12) of each unit cell. The separator includes a mesh conductor (14) on at least a surface facing the air electrode of the unit cells, and the mixed fluid passes through the mesh conductor. Water is retained on the mesh portion of the conductor. With this configuration, it is possible for the unit cell to be cooled by the release of latent heat when the water is evaporated by the heat of unit cell, without any clogging which inhibits contact between the electrode and the air.