Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a proton conductive electrolyte suitable for a fuel cell material and a fuel cell including the proton conductive electrolyte. More particularly, aspects of the present invention provide a proton conductive electrolyte that has good proton conductivity and can be used to form a membrane having good flexibility. As a result, the proton conductive electrolyte can be used in a fuel cell, the electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell or the electrodes thereof, and can provide a solid polymer fuel cell having high current density, high power and long life-time in a dry environment (relative humidity of 50% or less) at an operating temperature of 100 to 200° C.

Abstract: An electrolytic solution capable of inhibiting self-discharge even under the high temperatures and a battery using the electrolytic solution are provided. A spirally wound electrode body in which a cathode and an anode are wound with a separator in between and spirally wound is included inside the battery can. An electrolytic solution is impregnated in the separator. The electrolytic solution contains ethylene sulfite, vinylene carbonate, LiPF6, and a light metal salt such as lithium difluoro[oxalato-O,O?]borate in a given range. Thereby, the self-discharge can be inhibited even under the high temperatures.

Abstract: A fuel reforming system and a fuel cell system including the same, the fuel reforming system including: a fuel reformer adapted to produce a reformed gas having hydrogen as a main component from a fuel containing hydrogen; a carbon monoxide (CO) remover adapted to remove carbon monoxide from the reformed gas; a heat source adapted to supply heat energy to the reformer and the CO remover; and a moving unit adapted to move the heat source between the fuel reformer and the CO remover. With this configuration, the fuel reformer and the CO remover can be directly heated by a heat source. Then, when the temperature of the CO remover reaches a catalyst activation temperature, the heat source can be moved to directly heat only the fuel reformer, thereby enhancing a reforming effect and a power generation efficiency of the fuel reforming system.

Abstract: A fuel cell bipolar plate has a front surface and a rear surface opposite to each other, and flash and a receding portion. The flash is provided on the front surface at an outer peripheral portion of the bipolar plate and projects in a direction crossing the front surface. The receding portion is provided on the rear surface at an outer peripheral portion of the bipolar plate in a geometry capable of accommodating flash.

Abstract: A novel electrochemical cell which may be a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is disclosed where the cathodes (144, 140) may be exposed to the air and open to the ambient atmosphere without further housing. Current collector (145) extends through a first cathode on one side of a unit and over the unit through the cathode on the other side of the unit and is in electrical contact via lead (146) with housing unit (122 and 124). Electrical insulator (170) prevents electrical contact between two units. Fuel inlet manifold (134) allows fuel to communicate with internal space (138) between the anodes (154 and 156). Electrically insulating members (164 and 166) prevent the current collector from being in electrical contact with the anode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fuel cell system according to the invention comprising; a material gas feeder (1); a reformer (3); a fuel cell (4); a combustor (5); communication passages (6A-6E); and a controller (20), wherein during a shutdown period of the fuel cell (4), the controller (20) determines whether the fuel cell system is in a normal condition where a shutdown operation of the fuel cell (4) is performed; and wherein if the controller (20) determines that the fuel cell system is not in the normal condition, the controller (20) controls the material gas feeder (1) to execute a material gas feed process before a next ignition of the combustor (5), the material gas feed process being performed such that the material gas is supplied to a hydrogen-containing gas flow path constituted by the reformer (3) and the communication passages (6A-6E) located between the reformer (3) and the combustor (5).

Abstract: A system and method for managing electrically isolated fuel cell powered devices within an equipment rack is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; fuel cell devices; a fluid bus; a fluid manifold, coupling the fluid bus to each of the fuel cell devices; and an external fuel cell manager, for controlling a flow of fuel cell fluids to each of the fuel cell devices. The method discloses: generating electrical power on an electrical bus internal to each of a set of fuel cell devices, which are located in an equipment rack having an external electrical bus; transporting fuel cell fluids from a fluid bus to the fuel cell devices through a fluid manifold; adjusting the electrical power generated by each of the fuel cell devices; and electrically isolating the internal electrical bus of each of the fuel cell devices from the external electrical bus.

Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: A unit cell of a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and an anode side metal separator and a cathode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A plurality of first supply holes and a plurality of second supply holes extend through a channel unit of the anode side metal separator, and the channel unit connects a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas flow field. A fuel gas from the fuel gas supply passage flows into the first supply holes, and flows through an inlet connection channel. The fuel gas flows into the second supply holes connected to an end of the inlet connection channel. The fuel gas flows toward the side of the membrane electrode assembly, and then, the fuel gas is supplied to an anode.

Abstract: A separator material effective for decreasing the weight of fuel cells is provided which is lightweight, has good corrosion resistance, and exhibits a minimized increase in electrical contact resistance during use for a long period. Titanium or a titanium alloy is prepared by melting so as to contain not greater than 5 mass % B, thereby forming a titanium-based material in which fine TiB-type boride particles are precipitated and dispersed. The material is then etched in an aqueous acidic solution such that some of the TiB-type boride particles are exposed on the surface through the passive film formed thereon.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell (2) is formed from an electrode structure (7) and first and second separators (8, 9). The electrode structure (7) has a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (10), first and second electrode layers (11, 12), and first and second diffusion layers (13, 14). The first separator (8) forms a first gas passage (PH) through which a fuel gas (H) flows, and the second separator (9) forms a second gas passage (PA) through which an oxidizing gas (A) flows. A first jutting-out portion (15) of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane (10) and a second jutting-out portion (16) of the second diffusion layer (14) are joined together over the entire peripheries thereof via a cured adhesive layer (17), and the second jutting-out portion (16) is in a state in which it is impregnated by cured adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus having a first substrate having (1) a cavity, (2) one or more resistive heaters, and (3) one or more coatings forming a diffusion barrier to hydrogen; a second substrate having (1) an outlet valve comprising a pressure relief structure and (2) one or more coatings forming a diffusion barrier to hydrogen, wherein said second substrate is coupled to said first substrate forming a sealed volume in said cavity; a metal hydride material contained within said cavity; and a gas distribution system formed by coupling a microfluidic interconnect to said pressure relief structure. Additional apparatuses and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention aims to realize (1) manufacture of a mesoporous composite powder or thin film composed of nanocrystalline metal oxide—glass having a three-dimensional structure with a large specific surface area, (2) construction of a porous structure framework with nanocrystalline metal oxide crystal and a slight amount of glass phase (SiO2 or P2O5, B2O3), (3) control of crystal growth of metal oxide with a slight amount of glass phase (SiO2 or P2O5, B2O3), (4) simplification of the manufacturing process, and (5) use thereof in manufacture of a lithium intercalation electric device, photocatalytic device, solar battery and energy storage device. Provided are a nanocrystal oxide—glass mesoporous composite powder or thin film having a three-dimensional structure with regularly arranged mesopores, and a secondary battery comprising the same.

Abstract: In a battery accommodating structure having a battery chamber in which a battery is inserted and having a rear cover that covers the battery chamber in which the battery has been inserted, at least one screwing portion of screwing portions where two plate-like members are screwed to each other is disposed at a position where at least one of screwing portions is concealed by inserting the battery in the battery chamber on a bottom portion of the battery chamber.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a first housing, a second housing within the first housing, and a colorant. The first housing has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the second housing contains an alcohol fuel or a hydrocarbon fuel and has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The colorant is supported by at least a portion of the interior surface of the first housing.

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 safety system for reducing the explosion risk of a fuel tank comprises a protective gas generating device and a delivery device for delivering the protective gas generated by the protective gas generating device into the fuel tank. The protective gas generating device (24) comprises a fuel cell system (26) having a fuel cell (28) and is configured so as to provide the delivery device (14) with a protective gas generated by the fuel cell (28) during operation of the fuel cell system (26).

Abstract: A pyrogenic oxidic powder composed of particles, comprising (i) atoms of an element of groups 3A, 4A, 3B or 4B of the periodic table of the elements, and (ii) oxygen atoms, said particles being characterized by lithium atoms attached to said atoms via an oxygen bridge.

Abstract: A prismatic battery module includes a prismatic battery case having a plurality of prismatic cell cases connected to one another through separation walls, a planar electroconductive connector forming part of the separation wall between the cell cases, an electrode plate group arranged in each cell case, and an electrolyte placed in each cell case. Lead portions of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates of the electrode plate group are directly connected to the electroconductive connector. The prismatic battery module requires fewer connection points and provides shorter electrical communication paths, thereby reducing internal resistance.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and highly efficient fuel cell has boundary structures made of a photo-sensitive material in combination with selective patterning. Printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication techniques combine boundary structures with two and three dimensional electrical flow path. Photo-sensitive material and PCB fabrication techniques are alternately or combined utilized for making micro-channel structures or micro stitch structures for substantially reducing dead zones of the diffusion layer while keeping fluid flow resistance to a minimum. The fuel cell assembly is free of mechanical clamping elements. Adhesives that may be conductively contaminated and/or fiber-reinforced provide mechanical and eventual electrical connections, and sealing within the assembly. Mechanically supporting backing layers are pre-fabricated with a natural bend defined in combination with the backing layers' elasticity to eliminate massive support plates and assist the adhesive bonding.