Abstract: A method for producing an electrode catalyst includes a nanowire synthesis process of synthesizing metal nanowires, and a supporting process of supporting the metal nanowires on a carbon support. The supporting process is performed in a manner so that, in a first suspension containing the carbon support and the metal nanowires, while the metal nanowires are cut into short metal nanowires each having a length equal to or less than the particle diameter of the carbon support, the short metal nanowires are attached to the carbon support.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a vehicle equipped with a battery, a power supply device, and a control device that controls power supply from the power supply device to the vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine and a motor that receives the power supplied from the battery to generate traveling drive force. When the power supply by the power supply device is requested from the vehicle, the control device (a) acquires a remaining amount of fuel for the engine from the vehicle, (b) outputs an instruction to urge the vehicle to shorten a charging time when the remaining amount of fuel is larger than a reference value, and (c) sets at least one of a unit price for charging power or a unit price for fuel lower when a response to accept the instruction is received from the vehicle compared with when the instruction is not accepted.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a vehicle equipped with a battery, a power supply device, and a control device that controls power supply from the power supply device to the vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine and a motor that receives the power supplied from the battery to generate traveling drive force. When the power supply by the power supply device is requested from the vehicle, the control device (a) acquires a remaining amount of fuel for the engine from the vehicle, (b) outputs an instruction to urge the vehicle to shorten a charging time when the remaining amount of fuel is larger than a reference value, and (c) sets at least one of a unit price for charging power or a unit price for fuel lower when a response to accept the instruction is received from the vehicle compared with when the instruction is not accepted.

Abstract: A communication device acquires schedule information in which a schedule of a user who uses a hybrid electric vehicle is recorded. The schedule information includes a traveling schedule for causing the hybrid electric vehicle to travel in a predetermined period. The predetermined period is a period from when fuel of an engine is refueled to a predetermined deterioration time. When a traveling distance in a long-distance traveling schedule is a first distance, an ECU increases a usage ratio of the engine in the predetermined period than when the traveling distance is a second distance that is longer than the first distance. The long-distance traveling schedule is a schedule included in the traveling schedule and in which the hybrid electric vehicle travels for a predetermined distance or longer.

Abstract: A power transfer system includes: a compact mobility; a ground unit disposed on a second lane which is a driving lane for the compact mobility, the ground unit being capable of wireless power transfer; and a controller that controls the ground unit. The compact mobility has an amount of electric power that can be stored less than a predetermined amount, and travels at a speed dependent on electric power wirelessly received from the ground unit. When a pedestrian is sensed in the second lane, the controller forces the compact mobility to decelerate by reducing transmission power from the ground unit to the compact mobility, as compared to when the pedestrian is not sensed in the second lane.

Abstract: A vehicle is capable of receiving electric power supplied from a charger and capable of receiving electric power supplied from a charging mat. The charging mat is movable and capable of wireless power transfer. A method for providing a vehicle charging service includes a first step and a second step. The first step is giving, by a server, an instruction for installing the charging mat on a lane at which charging congestion is detected or predicted to occur, the charging congestion being traffic congestion for charging the electric power supplied from the charger. The second step is transmitting the electric power from the charging mat when the vehicle is detected above the charging mat installed on the lane in accordance with the instruction, and transmitting no electric power from the charging mat when the vehicle is not detected above the charging mat.

Abstract: A power reception device includes: a power reception coil that receives power by magnetic resonance; a power reception circuit that converts power received by the power reception coil into direct current; a load circuit that operates by the power into which the power is converted by the power reception circuit; a first substrate on which the power reception coil and the power reception circuit are mounted; and a second substrate on which the load circuit is mounted, the second substrate being located outside the power reception coil as viewed in an axial direction of the power reception coil.

Abstract: A power reception device includes: a power reception coil that receives power by magnetic resonance; a power reception circuit that converts power received by the power reception coil into direct current; a load circuit that operates by the power into which the power is converted by the power reception circuit; a first substrate on which the power reception coil and the power reception circuit are mounted; and a second substrate on which the load circuit is mounted, the second substrate being located outside the power reception coil as viewed in an axial direction of the power reception coil.

Abstract: An inverter circuit (7) including a resonance circuit including an inductor and a capacitor and outputting power; and a transmitting antenna (2) transferring the power output by the inverter circuit are provided. The inverter circuit varies at least one of inductance of the inductor and capacitance of the capacitor in accordance with input impedance of the transmitting antenna.

Abstract: A receiving antenna (3) receiving power transferred from a transmitting antenna (2) is provided. Further, a receiving circuit (4) controlling an input impedance in accordance with mutual inductance between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna is provided.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Each of the electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, the electrode catalyst layer facing the electrolyte membrane. A porous layer having a thickness of 5 to 40 ?m and a seepage pressure of 10 to 60 kPa is interposed between the electrode catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer. The porous layers preferably have a spring constant of 100 to 1000 GPa/m. The membrane electrode assembly may be devoid of any one of the porous layers.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is prepared by sandwiching an electrolyte membrane between an anode and a cathode. In the anode, a first porous layer is interposed between a first electrode catalyst layer and a first gas diffusion layer. In the cathode, a second porous layer is interposed between a second electrode catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer. A first piled body of the first gas diffusion layer and the first porous layer has a percolation pressure higher than that of a second piled body containing the second gas diffusion layer and the second porous layer. The first piled body has a percolation pressure of 25 to 120 kPa, and the second piled body has a percolation pressure of 5 to 25 kPa.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Each of the electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, the electrode catalyst layer facing the electrolyte membrane. A porous layer having a thickness of 5 to 40 ?m and a seepage pressure of 10 to 60 kPa is interposed between the electrode catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer. The porous layers preferably have a spring constant of 100 to 1000 GPa/m. The membrane electrode assembly may be devoid of any one of the porous layers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resonance type power transmission device in which a plurality of systems having respective transmitters and receivers 3 are arranged opposite to each other and each of the systems transmits electric power having a single frequency, each of the transmitters and receivers having a transmission antenna 5 and a reception antenna 6 which are disposed so as to be fitted to each other, and in which a magnetic sheet 7 is disposed in a portion between the systems, opposite to the transmitters and receivers 3 at a distance, from each of the transmitters and receivers 3, of 1/10 or more of the minimum of the outer diameters of the transmission antenna 5 and the reception antenna 6.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resonance type power transmission device in which a plurality of systems having respective transmitters and receivers 3 are arranged opposite to each other and each of the systems transmits electric power having a single frequency, each of the transmitters and receivers having a transmission antenna 5 and a reception antenna 6 which are disposed so as to be fitted to each other, and in which a magnetic sheet 7 is disposed in a portion between the systems, opposite to the transmitters and receivers 3 at a distance, from each of the transmitters and receivers 3, of 1/10 or more of the minimum of the outer diameters of the transmission antenna 5 and the reception antenna 6.

Abstract: A transmitting device includes a transmission power supply to output electric power, whose frequency matches a resonance frequency of each of the transmitting antennas, based on input power, plural switches respectively provided for the transmitting antennas, the switches being switchable to connect or disconnect supply lines for supplying the electric power outputted by the transmission power supply to the transmitting antennas, a parameter detector to detect parameters regarding the transmission power supply, the parameter being changed as a receiving antenna gets close to the transmitting antennas, by using a protective function of the transmission power supply, and a switch controller to estimate the position of the receiving antenna from the result of the detection, and to perform switching control on the switches in accordance with the position of the receiving antenna.

Abstract: A transmitting device includes a transmission power supply to output electric power, whose frequency matches a resonance frequency of each of the transmitting antennas, based on input power, plural switches respectively provided for the transmitting antennas, the switches being switchable to connect or disconnect supply lines for supplying the electric power outputted by the transmission power supply to the transmitting antennas, a parameter detector to detect parameters regarding the transmission power supply, the parameter being changed as a receiving antenna gets close to the transmitting antennas, by using a protective function of the transmission power supply, and a switch controller to estimate the position of the receiving antenna from the result of the detection, and to perform switching control on the switches in accordance with the position of the receiving antenna.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is prepared by sandwiching an electrolyte membrane between an anode and a cathode. In the anode, a first porous layer is interposed between a first electrode catalyst layer and a first gas diffusion layer. In the cathode, a second porous layer is interposed between a second electrode catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer. A first piled body of the first gas diffusion layer and the first porous layer has a percolation pressure higher than that of a second piled body containing the second gas diffusion layer and the second porous layer. The first piled body has a percolation pressure of 25 to 120 kPa, and the second piled body has a percolation pressure of 5 to 25 kPa.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Each of the electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, the electrode catalyst layer facing the electrolyte membrane. A porous layer having a thickness of 5 to 40 ?m and a seepage pressure of 10 to 60 kPa is interposed between the electrode catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer. The porous layers preferably have a spring constant of 100 to 1000 GPa/m. The membrane electrode assembly may be devoid of any one of the porous layers.