Abstract: A contrast agent characterized in that each of carbon nanohorns forming a carbon nanohorn aggregate has an opening at the side wall or tip, wherein a metal M (at least one metal selected from among paramagnetic metals, ferromagnetic metals, and superparamagnetic metals) or a compound of the metal M is incorporated in or dispersed on each of the carbon nanohorns. A contrast agent characterized in that it contains a Gd oxide. There is provided a contrast agent, which can be mass-produced easily, and satisfies the requirement of low toxicity and enables microscopic diagnoses when used for MRI. A contrast agent characterized in that is contains a carbon nanohorn aggregate.

Abstract: A plurality of fuel electrodes are disposed on one surface of a solid polyelectrolyte membrane, while a plurality of oxidizer electrodes are disposed on the other surface of the same to create a plurality of unit cells which share the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. These unit cells are electrically connected through connection electrode extending through the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. A groove is formed in a region of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane between adjacent unit cells. This groove limits the migration of hydrogen ions to adjacent unit cells to prevent a reduction in voltage. The resulting solid polymer fuel cell, which is in a simple structure and reduced in size, can provide high power.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst electrode and a manufacturing method of the same. When the catalyst electrode is used for a fuel cell, it is capable of suppressing an air, which is a by-product generated at a fuel electrode on a surface of the electrode, and quickly removing the adsorbed bubble-like air. Accordingly, the catalyst electrode is capable of increasing an effective catalyst surface of the fuel electrode and enhancing an output power of the fuel cell. Moreover, the present invention provides fuel cell and a manufacturing method of the same. The fuel cell is capable of suppressing an air, which is a by-product generated at the fuel electrode on the surface of the electrode and quickly removing the adsorbed bubble-like air. Accordingly, the fuel cell is capable of increasing an effective catalyst surface of the fuel electrode and enhancing an output power thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell which is small-sized and light-weight for mounting in a mobile device, and has a high output-density. A current-collector 421 of a fuel electrode (or a current-collector 423 of an oxidizer electrode) is bonded to a substrate 104 (or a substrate 110) of a fuel electrode 102 (or an oxidizer electrode 108) in a fuel cell 100, rendering the current-collector 421 (or the current-collector 423) to be thin and light-weight, and making it no longer necessary to use an end plate and a fastener. Fuel or oxidizer is supplied directly to a surface of the current-collector 421 or 423.

Abstract: An adhesive layer 3 is disposed between a carbon particle 2 and a catalyst substance 1 of a catalyst-supporting particle for a fuel cell containing the carbon particle 2 and the catalyst substance 1. Thereby, the catalyst-supporting particle for fuel cell can be obtained in which a contact resistance between the catalyst substance and the carbon particle supporting the same is lower, and the aggregation of the catalyst substance is suppressed. A catalyst electrode for a fuel cell and the fuel cell using the above particle have a higher output power and an excellent durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid electrolyte type fuel cell that can control a cross-over, and implements the high fuel efficiency and the high output of the fuel cell. A substance is dissolved to a fuel 124, and does not permeate a solid polymeric electrolyte film 114. Because of this, on an interface between the solid polymeric electrolyte film 114 and the fuel 124 in a fuel electrode 102, an osmotic pressure in a direction from an oxide agent electrode 108 to a fuel electrode 102 is generated. Because of this, the water movement from the fuel electrode 102 side to the oxidizing agent electrode 108 side is controlled, and the cross-over of the fuel is controllable.

Abstract: To provide a liquid fuel supply type fuel cell in which water present in the oxidizer electrode is promptly removed and evaporated, thereby achieving high output, a fuel cell electrode, and methods for manufacturing the same. In a fuel cell 100, a base material 110 is provided with a hydrophobic layer 441 on the surface in contact with a catalyst layer 112 for discharging water promptly, and a hydrophilic layer 443 from the hydrophobic layer 441 towards the outside of the cell for evaporating water which has passed through the hydrophobic layer 441 from the surface.

Abstract: A liquid fuel for a fuel cell comprises an organic compound and at least one kind of anti foaming agent. A catalyst electrode is capable of, when used for a fuel cell, increasing in an effective surface area of a fuel electrode and increasing in an output power of the fuel cell, by suppressing adsorption onto the surface of the electrode of an air which is a by-product produced at the fuel electrode as well as by quickly removing the foamed air which is once adsorbed thereto.

Abstract: Electric power is supplied from a fuel cell to a portable personal computer (210) having a heat-producing section (212) which generates heat during operation. The fuel cell includes electrolyte, a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode arranged to sandwich the electrolyte, and a fuel supply section capable of supplying fuel which has absorbed heat of the heat-producing section (212) to the fuel electrode. The fuel supply section removes the heat from the heat-producing section (212) by supplying fuel to the fuel electrode when the fuel is heated by heat exchange. Thus, it is possible to improve the battery efficiency of the fuel cell and suppress increase of the temperature of the heat-producing section.

Abstract: An adhesion layer containing a second solid polymer electrolyte is disposed between a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a fuel electrode and/or an oxidant electrode containing a first solid polymer electrolyte and a catalyst substance. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the adhesion layer are made of the same solid polymer electrolyte. In this manner, the adhesion at the interface between the electrode surface and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is enhanced to implement the elevation of the cell characteristics and the elevation of the reliability of the cell.

Abstract: Compounds are expressed by general formula of AxBC2−y where 0≦x≦2 and 0≦y<1, and have CdI2 analogous layer structures; A-site is occupied by at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Sc, rare earth elements containing Y, B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Sn, Pb and Bi; B-site is occupied by at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Ir, and Sn; C-site is occupied by at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se and Te; the compounds exhibit large figure of merit so as to be preferable for thermoelectric generator/refrigerator.

Abstract: A plurality of fuel electrodes are disposed on one surface of a common solid polyelectrolyte membrane, while a plurality of oxidizer electrodes are disposed on the other surface of the same to create a plurality of unit cells, which share the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. These unit cells are electrically connected through connection electrode. A groove is formed in a region of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane between adjacent unit cells. This groove limits the migration of hydrogen ions to adjacent unit cells to prevent reduction in voltage. The resulting solid polymer fuel cell provided in this way, which is simple in structure and of a small size and a small thickness, can provide high power.

Abstract: A plurality of fuel electrodes are disposed on one surface of a solid polyelectrolyte membrane, while a plurality of oxidizer electrodes are disposed on the other surface of the same to create a plurality of unit cells which share the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. These unit cells are electrically connected through connection electrode extending through the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. A groove is formed in a region of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane between adjacent unit cells. This groove limits the migration of hydrogen ions to adjacent unit cells to prevent a reduction in voltage. The resulting solid polymer fuel cell, which is in a simple structure and reduced in size, can provide high power.

Abstract: A thin film made of a cobalt-based oxide represented by YBaCo2O5.5+x (−0.5<x<0.05) is used as a resistor material for a bolometer. Provided is also an infrared sensor having a microbridge structure and using the cobalt-based oxide thin film. The temperature coefficient of the electric resistance thereof can be made large.

Abstract: Compounds are expressed by general formula of AxBC2−y where 0≦x≦2 and 0≦y<1, and have CdI2 analogous layer structures; A-site is occupied by at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Sc, rare earth elements containing Y, B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Sn, Pb and Bi; B-site is occupied by at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Ir, and Sn; C-site is occupied by at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se and Te; the compounds exhibit large figure of merit so as to be preferable for thermoelectric generator/refrigerator.

Abstract: A thin film made of a cobalt-based oxide represented by YBaCo2O5.5+x (−0.5<x<0.05) is used as a resistor material for a bolometer. Provided is also an infrared sensor having a microbridge structure and using the cobalt-based oxide thin film. The temperature coefficient of the electric resistance thereof can be made large.