Abstract: A lamellar structure graphite foil is used as a material for a separator for a fuel cell, and a hydrophobic layer is formed by impregnation on flow-field channels of the graphite foil. Such a separator is manufactured by forming the flow field channel by etching the graphite foil formed with the mask pattern thereon and forming a hydrophobic layer by impregnation. According to such a separator, performance of a fuel cell stack is enhanced and the manufacturing process of a separator is simplified.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a fine catalyst particle comprising a palladium-containing particle and a platinum outermost layer covering the palladium-containing particle, wherein a first composite body containing palladium and platinum is formed by mixing the palladium-containing particle with a first solution in which a platinum compound is dissolved, and then covering at least part of a surface of the palladium-containing particle with platinum; wherein a second composite body containing palladium, platinum and copper is formed by mixing the first composite body with a second solution in which a copper compound is dissolved, and then covering at least part of a surface of the first composite body with copper using copper underpotential deposition; and wherein the copper in the second composite body is substituted with platinum derived from a third solution in which a platinum compound is dissolved.

Abstract: A redox flow cell membrane includes a porous membrane that has a mean flow pore size of not more than 100 nm, that has a thickness of not more than 500 ?m, and that has an air flow rate of not less than 0.1 ml/s·cm2. When the redox flow cell membrane is used for a V—V-based redox flow cell, the porous membrane preferably has a mean flow pore size of not more than 30 nm.

Abstract: A method for activating a fuel cell stack without using an electric load includes chemically adsorbing hydrogen into a catalyst of a cathode. Oxygen remaining in the stack is removed to seal and store the fuel cell stack while maintaining a negative pressure in the fuel cell stack. The method for activating a fuel cell stack does not require an electric load device, and therefore does not increase the number of activation equipment, thereby preventing the total production speed of the fuel cell stack from reducing in response to the stack activation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a jelly roll for a secondary battery configured by winding a cathode sheet, a separator, and an anode sheet, wherein electrode tabs are connected to uncoated portions of the electrode sheets, to which electrode active materials are not applied, by welding, and each of the electrode tabs is configured to have an embossed structure protruding toward the uncoated portion to improve weldability.

Abstract: A battery case within which a battery is housed includes a first layer that is made of metal, a second layer that is made of heat insulating material, and a third layer that is made of phase-change heat storage material. The second layer is closer to the battery than the first layer is. The third layer is closer to the battery than the second layer is.

Abstract: Tensile strength in a width direction and a longitudinal direction is improved without damaging a ventilation characteristic. A perforated film is a perforated film provided with holes, each of the holes is arranged at an intersection of a plurality of virtual lines extending along a direction and a plurality of virtual lines extending along a direction, and the direction is different from the width direction and the longitudinal direction. The direction and the direction may be both inclined at an angle larger than 30° and smaller than 60° to the width direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molten sodium secondary cell. In some cases, the secondary cell includes a sodium metal negative electrode, a positive electrode compartment that includes a positive electrode disposed in a molten positive electrolyte comprising Na—FSA (sodium-bis(fluorosulonyl)amide), and a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane that separates the negative electrode from the positive electrolyte. One disclosed example of electrolyte membrane material includes, without limitation, a NaSICON-type membrane. The positive electrode includes a sodium intercalation electrode. Non-limiting examples of the sodium intercalation electrode include NaxMnO2, NaxCrO2, NaxNiO, and NaxFey(PO4)z. The cell is functional at an operating temperature between about 100° C. and about 150° C., and preferably between about 110° C. and about 130° C.

Abstract: A biofuel cell comprising an anode and cathode wherein biocatalytic enzymes are purposefully oriented at each side of the fuel cell so as to increase and/or optimize the enzymes' performance in catalysis and/or electron transfer.

Abstract: A humidification device for humidifying process gases, in particular for fuel cells, having a stack of repeating components, including a steam-permeable membrane, a first layer arrangement arranged on a first side of the membrane having a first flow layer for conducting a process gas to be humidified, a multiplicity of flow channels running parallel to the membrane, a second layer arrangement arranged on a second side of the membrane having a second flow layer for conducting a humidified gas including a multiplicity of flow channels running parallel to the membrane, and two protective films which adjoin the second flow layer on both sides and have a multiplicity of through-openings.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel supply unit that supplies a fuel to electrolyte membrane of fuel cell, an oxidant supply unit that supplies an oxidant to the electrolyte membrane, and an electricity generation control unit that controls electricity generation by the fuel cell by controlling supply of the oxidant by the oxidant supply unit and supply of the fuel by the fuel supply unit. the fuel cell system includes a wet/dry state detection unit configured to detect a wet/dry state of the electrolyte membrane, a flow rate adjustment unit configured to adjust a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the fuel cell by the fuel supply unit; and a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust a temperature of the oxidant supplied to the fuel cell by the oxidant supply unit.

Abstract: An electrochemical stack comprising carrier ions, an anode comprising an anode active material layer, a cathode comprising a cathode active material layer, a separator between the anode and the cathode comprising a porous dielectric material and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and an ionically permeable conductor layer located between the separator and an electrode active material layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molten sodium secondary cell. In some cases, the secondary cell includes a sodium metal negative electrode, a positive electrode compartment that includes a positive electrode disposed in a molten positive electrolyte comprising Na-FSA (sodium-bis(fluorosulonyl)amide), and a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane that separates the negative electrode from the positive electrolyte. One disclosed example of electrolyte membrane material includes, without limitation, a NaSICON-type membrane. Non-limiting examples of the positive electrode include Ni, Zn, Cu, or Fe. The cell is functional at an operating temperature between about 100° C. and about 150° C., and preferably between about 110° C. and about 130° C.

Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator including a porous film containing, as a main component, polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 500,000, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator having an MD orientation ratio of 58% to 80%, a degree of MD orientation of 70% to 80%, and a degree of TD orientation of 65% to 85%, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator having a film thickness of not more than 14 ?m, and the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator being excellent in shutdown temperature and puncture strength.

Abstract: A battery manufacturing apparatus is configured to produce a plurality of types of battery modules (first battery module and second battery module) having a cell unit (flat battery) housed inside a case having an upper case and a lower case and having different specifications between a plurality of components (bolted brackets and sleeves) attached to the case. The battery manufacturing apparatus has a first attachment mechanism, a second attachment mechanism and a battery housing mechanism. The first attachment mechanism attaches to one of the upper case and the lower case of the plurality of components having different specifications. The second attachment mechanism attaches to one of the upper case and the lower case of the plurality of components having no specification differences. The battery housing mechanism has a flat battery arranged between the upper case and the lower case.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell operated under non-humidified conditions that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, a fuel gas channel facing the anode to supply it with fuel gas, an oxidant gas channel facing the cathode to supply it with oxidant gas, and a flow direction of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are opposite. The fuel cell system may control a water vapor amount at an outlet of the fuel gas channel based on a value that is set based on a relationship between a voltage of the fuel cell and the water vapor amount. The fuel cell system may control an average flow rate of the fuel gas in the fuel gas channel based on a value that is set based on a relationship between a voltage of the fuel cell and the average flow rate.

Abstract: In an improved lithium sulfur battery, an improvement comprises an effective Prussian blue dense membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A mounting structure for an electric storage apparatus includes the electric storage apparatus, a vehicle body, a first reinforce, and a second reinforce. The electric storage apparatus outputs an energy for use in running of a vehicle. The vehicle body includes a concave portion opened upward in the vehicle. The concave portion houses the electric storage apparatus. The first reinforce is disposed along a bottom face of the concave portion and extends in a predetermined direction. The second reinforce is disposed along an upper face of the electric storage apparatus and extends in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A high current fuse with a short time constant is provided for use in an electric vehicle. The fuse is designed to exhibit thermal characteristics that are similar if not substantially identical to those of the wire bond interconnects used in the vehicle's battery pack. As a result, the system does not go into an overheat protection condition when the system is subjected to repetitive high current cycles, such as those common during aggressive and/or spirited driving. The fuse includes an arc suppressor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a hydro-desulfurizer that removes sulfur compounds in power generation material, a fuel cell unit that generates electric power using the power generation material, a recycle channel that supplies a part of hydrogen-containing gas from the fuel cell unit to the power generation material before the power generation material enters the hydro-desulfurizer, and an ejector which is provided in a power generation material channel upstream of the hydro-desulfurizer and into which hydrogen-containing gas from the recycle channel flows, in which the ejector is heated by exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell unit.