Abstract: A composite seal having a multilayer elastomeric construction and method for constructing the same is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a composite seal comprised of a low-durometer elastomer compliant layer coated with, or alternatively encapsulated by, a thin protective layer for securely sealing a bipolar plate and a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell. The elastomer compliant layer is preferably a silicone constituent and the thin coat protective layer is preferably a fluoroelastomer or fluoropolymer constituent suitable for bonding to the elastomer compliant layer. The foregoing layers constructing the composite seal are preferably deposited directly onto the aforementioned fuel cell components along a predetermined periphery. The resulting composite seal is thin in construction, resistive to undesired chemical and thermal reactions and provides the necessary compressive compliance without undue stress on the fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: In a battery receiving mechanism in which one end of a casing for receiving a battery has an opening section for exposing an electrode of a battery and this opening section is opened and closed by a cover, the cover is divided to an outer section and an inner section sliding to each other and the outer section is connected to a casing by a hinge having a long hole. The inner section has a part engaged with the casing. When the cover is opened, the cover can be opened with a short stroke without rubbing the battery.

Abstract: For the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, a metal alloy catalyst contains the metals Pd, M1 and M2 where M1 and M2 are different metals selected from Co, Fe, Au, Cr and W (but excluding the combination PdCoAu). Preferred ternary alloys for use as catalysts may be selected from PdCoCr, PdCoW, PdFeCr, PdFeW, PdCrW, PdWAu, PdCrAu, PdCoFe and PdFeAu. Compositional ranges that are specially effective are assessed by a high throughput physical vapor deposition method. Catalysts especially suitable for use in direct methanol fuel cells are identified.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell is described. The method includes controlling the temperature of the anode plate and the temperature of the cathode plate to obtain a temperature difference of at least about 2° C. between the anode plate and the cathode plate. A fuel cell is also described.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery, containing a case and provided in the case, a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode comprises a lithium-titanium composite oxide, wherein a crystallite diameter of the lithium-titanium composite oxide is not larger than 6.9×102 ?. The lithium-titanium composite oxide comprises: rutile TiO2; anatase TiO2; Li2TiO3; and a lithium titanate having a spinel structure. A main peak intensity relative to lithium titanate set at 100, as determined by X-ray diffractometry, of each of lithium titanate having a spinel structure, the rutile TiO2, the anatase TiO2 and Li2TiO3 is not larger than 7.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode junction agent, a proton conducting membrane having a junction layer, a membrane-electrode assembly, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and a manufacturing method of the membrane-electrode assembly, which enhance the power generation performance, realize the high fuel barrier property, and are capable of enhancing the joint strength between the membrane and the electrodes, is provided. A membrane-electrode junction agent that joins a proton conducting membrane and electrodes arranged on both surfaces of the proton conducting membrane to each other, the membrane-electrode junction agent including: a cross-linked compound (X) having a silicon-oxygen bond; a polymer material (Y) containing an acid group; and a hydrophilic resin (Z) containing no acid group.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack for generating power and power generation control means. The fuel cell stack has at least one cell that includes a cathode to which an oxidant is supplied, an anode to which a fuel is supplied, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. The power generation control means has dryness degree determination means for determining the degree of dryness of the fuel cell stack based on shut-down period. When the shut-down period is shorter than a predetermined period of time, the power generation control means supplies a gas for drying to the cathode for a predetermined period of time, to remove water remaining in the cathode. When the shut-down period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period of time, such a drying operation is not performed.

Abstract: A pouch type lithium secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including electrode tabs respectively connected to two electrodes, the two electrodes having different polarities; and a case to house the electrode assembly such that the electrode tabs extend to the outside of the case, wherein one stepped part through which the two electrode tabs simultaneously extend is formed in a sealing portion of the case. In the electrode sealing portion of the pouch type lithium secondary battery having short width, sealing of the case is improved by the one stepped part, thereby improving efficiency of the manufacturing process of the battery.

Abstract: This invention provides a battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, that includes an encapsulated fire-retardant material. In some embodiments, stable polymer spheres are used to encapsulate an effective fire-retardant material. Under normal operating conditions, the fire-retardant material does not contact the electrolyte, cathode, or anode, thus minimizing performance reduction that occurs when fire-retardant materials are in the direct presence of the electrolyte. Under thermal runaway or excessive temperatures, the fire retardant material vaporizes through the melted encapsulating phase, thereby releasing fire-retardant material to minimize or prevent flammability in the battery.

Abstract: A power supply device in which a plurality of power supplying bodies are stacked is provided with a plurality of holes that extend from one end side to the other end side in the stacking direction of the power supply device and through which coolant flows. The power supply device is also provided with a guide portion that leads coolant that has passed through a first hole which is provided in a first region of the power supply device into a second hole which is provided in a second region of the power supply device which radiates heat better than the first region does.

Abstract: In a fuel cell including a gasket, which includes a lip portion, as a sealing member, the fuel cell includes a fuel cell constituent element (18) disposed adjacent to the lip portion (50) of the gasket (48), and a non-adhesive layer (54) disposed between the gasket (48) and the fuel cell constituent element (18).

Abstract: Disclosed are a metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell and a method for manufacturing the metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell. The method includes: fixedly joining a metal support to one surface of a unit cell including a fuel electrode, an air electrode and an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel and air electrodes to fabricate a metal-supported unit cell (S210); fixing a first separator to the surface of the metal support opposite to the surface thereof to which the unit cell is joined (S220); and assembling the first separator to which the metal-supported unit cell is fixed, an insulating member, a first current collecting member and a second separator (S230). In the metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell, the metal support having a hollow portion in place of a mesh type current collector can be securely sealed to the first separator by direct welding to allow the fuel gas and air to be supplied to the unit cell through respective defined flow passages without being mixed or leakage.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the anode, cathode and membrane contains a hydrocarbon ionomer, and an electrode catalyst disposed in at least one of the anode and the cathode, wherein the catalyst is a metal alloy catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a laminated porous film having excellent shutdown characteristics and breakdown characteristics, good tearing strength and dimensional stability, and B activity. The laminated porous film comprises layer A, the main component of which is a polypropylene resin, and layer B which contains a polyethylene resin, and the ratio of the rearing strength (HMD) in the machine direction (MD) of the laminated porous film and the tearing strength (HTD) in the transverse direction (TD) of the laminated porous film with respect to the machine direction (HMD) (HTD) is 0.08 to 2.0.

Abstract: A direct oxidation fuel cell of the invention includes at least one unit cell, the unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode sandwiching the electrolyte membrane, an anode-side separator being in contact with the anode, and a cathode-side separator being in contact with the cathode. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer and an anode diffusion layer, the anode catalyst layer containing an anode catalyst. The cathode includes a cathode catalyst layer and a cathode diffusion layer, the cathode catalyst layer containing a cathode catalyst. The anode-side separator has a fuel flow channel for supplying fuel to the anode. A portion of the cathode catalyst layer facing the upstream of the fuel flow channel has an effective reaction area per unit area larger than that of a portion of the cathode catalyst layer facing the downstream of the fuel flow channel.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a membrane electrode assembly using an interface resistance reducing composition which can simply reduce the resistance of the interface between an electrode and an electrolyte membrane in a short time at low temperatures at low pressure without polymerization while maintaining an effect of suppressing a fuel crossover even with an electrolyte membrane having high heat resistance, high strength, a high tensile elastic modulus and a low water content.

Abstract: An energy storage device is provided. The energy storage device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode covered by a protective layer, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode includes fast-energy-storage electrochemical capacitive materials coated on a current collector. The negative electrode includes metal materials capable of having electrochemical reactivity toward lithium ion. The protective layer includes oxides or hydroxides of the metal materials.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electricity; and control means which supplies an output power from the fuel cell to a predetermined load power source while realizing a low-efficiency operation of the fuel cell, thereby driving and controlling the load power source. The control means sets the output voltage of the fuel cell during the low-efficiency operation to a value not smaller than the minimum drive voltage of the load power source.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing separators includes (S1) treating at least one of the laminating surfaces of two porous substrates by corona discharge and laminating the porous substrates, (S2) preparing a slurry containing inorganic particles dispersed therein and a solution of a binder polymer in a solvent, and coating the slurry on both surfaces of the laminate of the porous substrates, and (S3) delaminating the coated laminate of the porous substrates. According to the method, two separators can be simultaneously manufactured with enhanced productivity. In addition, corona discharge can reduce damage to the surfaces of the porous substrates during lamination while maintaining the porosities of the porous substrates. Therefore, excellent performance of electrochemical devices using the separators can be ensured.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer provided on a negative electrode collector and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the negative electrode active material layer contains a polyvinylidene fluoride-containing binder and a nano ceramic particle having a primary particle size of not more than 100 nm; and the binder and the nano ceramic particle are complexed.