Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell has a proton conducting membrane (PCM), a catalyst in contact with the PCM, a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst, and a conducting plate in contact with the gas diffusion membrane. The gas diffusion layer comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous membrane, a laminate of a microporous membrane, and a skinned microporous membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ion-conductive polymer membrane for a fuel cell, whereby the polymer membrane is configured from a polymer-forming hydrocarbon material and to a method for producing the same. The membrane also has a metal-containing gel which has been hydrolysed and/or condensed from a metal alkoxide starting material and which is deposited in the polymer and/or is chemically bonded to the polymer. The proportion of metal alkoxide by weight, in relation to the membrane, lies between 25% and 1%.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of battery plates includes forming a strip including a plurality of battery grids. Each battery grid includes a grid network bordered by a frame element and includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements. Each grid wire element has opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. The method also includes deforming at least a portion of a plurality of the grid wire elements such that the deformed grid wire elements have a first transverse cross-section at a point intermediate their opposed ends that differs from a second transverse cross-section taken at at least one of their opposed ends. The method also includes applying a lead alloy coating to the strip, applying battery paste to the strip, and cutting the strip to form a plurality of battery plates.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer electrolyte containing a block copolymer comprising one or more blocks having sulfonic acid groups and one or more blocks having substantially no sulfonic acid group, and at least one block among all blocks is a block having aromatic rings in the main chain thereof, and a method for producing the same. The polymer electrolyte is suitable for a proton conductive film of a fuel cell due to excellent water resistance and heat resistance, and high proton conductivity.

Abstract: A seal structure of separator for fuel cell comprising: two separators disposed opposite to one another, which have electrode portions, manifold portions circulating fuel gas fed to said electrode portions, passage grooves feeding fuel gas between said electrode portion and said manifold portion, and hole portions opposite to the manifold portions of a facing separator; a seal body, which is provided integrally on the separators and has a first seal portion to seal an area surrounding the electrode, the passage groove and the manifold portion, and a second seal portion to independently seal the hole portion; an electrolyte membrane, sandwiched between the two separators, having a size enough to include the electrode portion, the manifold portion and the hole portion, and having a shape with a through-hole on the manifold portion and at a portion of the hole portion; and a gasket surrounding the manifold portion of the separators and straddling the passage groove to enable fuel gas to be distributed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Lithium Metal batteries. In particular, it is related to lithium metal batteries containing a polyimide-based electrolyte. The present invention concerns a new concept of polyimide-based electrolytic component having an electrolyte consisting of at least one solvent and at least one alkali metal salt, with specific amounts of solvents, to optimize the properties of conductivity of the polyimide-based electrolyte and the mechanical properties of the polyimide-based electrolyte separator towards metallic lithium anode to prevent dendrites growths.

Abstract: An electrode for a battery includes an electrode sheet, a lead, and a metal piece. The electrode sheet has a collector, an active material layer formed on the collector, and a lead connecting portion which is configured as an exposed extension of the collector, on both surfaces of which the active material layer is not formed. The lead connecting portion, the lead, and the metal piece are overlapped to and joined to each other. With this configuration, even if a contact area between the lead connecting portion and the lead is small, an electric resistance at the joined portion between the lead connecting portion and the lead becomes small, with a result that it is possible to enhance the strength of the joined portion and to enhance the discharge load characteristic of the battery.

Abstract: As disclosed, there is provided a small-size power system for fuel cell allowing efficient extraction of electric power-output from a fuel cell and a secondary cell, electronic equipment, and an electric power feeding method. The power system for fuel cell has a voltage conversion circuit and a rectification circuit, and is structured such that output voltage of the fuel cell is converted with a set voltage, which is an output voltage corresponding to a maximum electric power-output of the fuel cell, as a reference to produce a switch voltage, and at least either the switch voltage or an output voltage of the secondary cell is outputted through the rectification circuit. This allows parallel operation of the fuel cell and secondary cell in a state that the electric power of the fuel cell can be utilized to the full.

Abstract: A fuel cell element comprising a tube of a solid electrolyte. An outer electrode is provided on an outside of the tube and an inner electrode is provided in the inside of the tube. A ring formed of an electrically conducting material is mounted to the tube and is electrically connected to the tube. The ring has a first surface intended to be mountable to and slidingly engageable with a substantially complementary shaped second surface of a wall of a conduit means to supply a gaseous consumable to an interior of the tube or to carry gas from the interior. The mounting of the ring to and the engaging of the ring with the second surface is to provide an electrical connection between the fuel cell element and the conduit means.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a related control method are disclosed wherein, during start-up of a fuel cell stack 1, a controller 21 operates a DC/DC converter 13 in a voltage control mode to allow an electric power to be supplied from a secondary battery 7 to a load 6 at an output voltage managed by the DC/DC converter. Under such a condition, an electric power level appearing when a voltage level of the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load lies at a value greater than an open voltage level of the fuel cell stack 1. Next, the DC/DC converter 13 is operative in an electric power control mode to allow the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load at a managed electric power output. Then, a level of the electric power to be supplied to the load is detected with the DC/DC converter 13, which permits the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load at an electric power level less than a resulting detected electric power level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle capable of efficiently cooling a fuel stack and supplying sufficient reactant gas to the fuel stack with only a single air supply means.

Abstract: A hydrogen ionic conductive inorganic material having a layered structure, wherein a moiety containing a functional group with hydrogen ionic conductivity is introduced between layers of an inorganic material having a nano-sized interlayer distance. A polymer nanocomposite membrane including a reaction product of the hydrogen ionic conductive inorganic material and a conductive polymer, and a fuel cell using the same, are also provided. In the polymer nanocomposite membrane, a conductive polymer may be intercalated to a hydrogen ionic conductive inorganic material having a layered structure or products exfoliated from an inorganic material having a layered structure are dispersed in a conductive polymer.

Abstract: A battery having a single cell, an outer paper package covering the single cell, and a water-repellent layer included in the outer paper package.

Abstract: A fuel cell module having four sheet metal parts stamped from flat stock. The parts do not require any forming operations such as folding or dishing. Each part may have a different thickness to suit its function. The first part is a cell mounting frame for receiving and supporting a PEN fuel cell element. The second part is a cathode spacer, the thickness of the spacer determining the height of the cathode air flow field. The third part is an anode spacer, the thickness of spacer determining the height of the anode fuel flow field. The fourth part is a separator plate for separating the anode gas flow in one cell from the cathode air flow in an adjacent cell in a fuel cell stack. The four plates are joined by welding or brazing and may be assembled in any order or combination which suits the assembly process. Any desired number of modules may be stacked together to form a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fuel cell, comprising a step of forming a plurality of holes (10) in at least two substrates (9); each hole is in the seat of an individual fuel cell, the said holes having a particular geometry, such as a shape of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid shape. The various individual cells are then electrically connected by networks of electrical connections (11, 12) and are supplied via a reactant distribution network, the assembly formed by a substrate (9), the cells and the networks constituting a base module (9?). Finally, at least two base modules (9?) are assembled, the individual cells of each base module being positioned facing the individual cells of the adjacent base module(s).

Abstract: A target electric power operating part (2) operates a target electric power of a fuel cell. A running target point operating part (3) operates targets of both pressure of gas and mass flow rate of gas. A running point controlling part (4) controls a running point of the fuel cell. A running state detecting part (5) detects a running state of the fuel cell. An output power limit operating part (6) operates a limit of the output power produced by the fuel cell, based on the running state e.g., pressure of the gas detected in the running state detecting part (5). A commanded output power operating part (7) operates a commanded output power, the commanded output power being defined as a minimum value between an output from the output power limit operating part (6) and an output from the target electric power operating part (2).

Abstract: A battery system of the present invention includes one or more cell groups, each having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a solid electrolyte layer, and one or more heat mediating structures adjacent to the cell groups. The cell groups and the heat mediating structures are alternately stacked. A solid electrolyte is applied to the electrolyte layer. The respective cell groups have a thin plate shape, and adjacent thereto, the heat mediating structures are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate are provided, wherein the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of said plate, and a coating adhered to the plate in an area of the plate including the fluid flow channels defined by the plate body. The coating comprises expanded graphite comprising less than about 0.01% by weight of impurities. The coating also comprises less than about 10% by weight expanded graphite plus carbon black, and about 70% to about 95% by wt. binder, wherein the binder is comprised of a polymeric resin.

Abstract: The battery comprises a positive electrode which has a positive electrode active material compound layer containing a positive electrode active material formed on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode which has at least one negative electrode thin film layer and at least one negative electrode active material compound layer, on a negative electrode current collector, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing an electrolyte salt. The negative electrode thin film layer contains at least one Group 14 element, and is formed by a thin-film formation technology, and the negative electrode active material compound layer contains a binder and a negative electrode active material, which contains at least any one of Sn, Si, Sn compound, Si compound and carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A method of regulating a relative humidity of a gas supplied to a cathode side of a fuel cell stack includes controlling a flow of feedback gas from the cathode side to a compressor to adjust the relative humidity of the gas. Injected water into the compressor is vaporized in the compressor to further adjust the relative humidity of the gas. The gas is discharged at a pressure that is sufficient for use in the fuel cell stack. Water is injected into the compressor. Vaporizing is achieved using heat generated through compression. A compression pressure of the compressor is adjusted based on a quantity of the water to vaporize the water therein.