Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer; an electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer; a first fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has pores; a second fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has larger pores than the those of the first fuel control layer; a third fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has smaller porous than those of the first fuel control layer and those of the second fuel control layer; and an anode GDL layer that is water-repellent and conductive, wherein the membrane and the layers above are arranged in the above order.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye sensitized solar cell comprising an n-type semiconductor electrode containing a dye, an opposed electrode, and a gel electrolyte arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the opposed electrode and containing a gelling agent and an electrolyte that contains iodine, wherein the gelling agent contains a compound including an N-containing group and at least one atomic group selected from a group consisting of a sulfonic group and a carboxylic group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst having high activity and excellent stability, a process for preparation of the catalyst, a membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The catalyst of the present invention comprises an electronically conductive support and catalyst fine particles. The catalyst fine particles are supported on the support and are represented by the formula (1): PtuRuxGeyTz (1). In the formula, u, x, y and z mean 30 to 60 atm %, 20 to 50 atm %, 0.5 to 20 atm % and 0.5 to 40 atm %, respectively. When the element represented by T is Al, Si, Ni, W, Mo, V or C, the content of the T-element's atoms connected with oxygen bonds is not more than four times as large as that of the T-element's atoms connected with metal bonds on the basis of X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst having high activity and excellent stability, a process for preparation of the catalyst, a membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The catalyst of the present invention comprises an electronically conductive support and catalyst fine particles. The catalyst fine particles are supported on the support and are represented by the formula (1): PtuRuxGeyTz (1). In the formula, u, x, y and z mean 30 to 60 atm %, 20 to 50 atm %, 0.5 to 20 atm % and 0.5 to 40 atm %, respectively. When the element represented by T is Al, Si, Ni, W, Mo, V or C, the content of the T-element's atoms connected with oxygen bonds is not more than four times as large as that of the T-element's atoms connected with metal bonds on the basis of X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) analysis.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge to be connected to a direct methanol fuel cell power generating device includes a spare fuel tank which stores a liquid fuel and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device and a harmful substance trap member. The spare fuel tank stores a liquid fuel and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device. The harmful substance trap member is fixed to the spare fuel tank and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device. The harmful substance trap member contains a harmful substance trap material which traps gaseous harmful substances exhausted from the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer; an electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer; a first fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has pores; a second fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has larger pores than the those of the first fuel control layer; a third fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has smaller porous than those of the first fuel control layer and those of the second fuel control layer; and an anode GDL layer that is water-repellent and conductive, wherein the membrane and the layers above are arranged in the above order.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge to be connected to a direct methanol fuel cell power generating device includes a spare fuel tank which stores a liquid fuel and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device and a harmful substance trap member. The spare fuel tank stores a liquid fuel and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device. The harmful substance trap member is fixed to the spare fuel tank and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device. The harmful substance trap member contains a harmful substance trap material which traps gaseous harmful substances exhausted from the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cartridge for supplying methanol aqueous solution to a direct methanol fuel cell system, comprising a memory which stores at least a concentration of the methanol aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye sensitized solar cell comprising an n-type semiconductor electrode containing a dye, an opposed electrode, and a gel electrolyte arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the opposed electrode and containing a gelling agent and an electrolyte that contains iodine, wherein the gelling agent contains a compound including an N-containing group and at least one atomic group selected from a group consisting of a sulfonic group and a carboxylic group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye sensitized solar cell comprising an n-type semiconductor electrode containing a dye, an opposed electrode, and a gel electrolyte arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the opposed electrode and containing a gelling agent and an electrolyte that contains iodine, wherein the gelling agent contains a compound including an N-containing group and at least one atomic group selected from a group consisting of a sulfonic group and a carboxylic group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell comprising a fuel cell body (stacked body) including a unit cell having an electromotive section in which an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode, and a liquid fuel tank for storing a liquid fuel that is to be supplied to the fuel cell body and connected to the fuel cell body. The liquid fuel is introduced by the capillary action into the unit cell included in the fuel cell body and vaporized within the unit cell so as to be supplied to the fuel electrode, thereby generating an electric power. The liquid fuel tank is provided with a pressure adjusting mechanism for introducing a required amount of the liquid fuel from a liquid outlet port into the unit cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a gel electrolyte that contains a gelling agent and an electrolyte, wherein the gelling agent contains at least one kind of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a first polymer in which polysulfonic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two, a second polymer in which polycarboxylic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two, a third polymer in which a quaternary ammonium salt of polysulfonic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two and a fourth polymer in which a quaternary ammonium salt of polycarboxylic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two.

Abstract: A direct-methanol fuel cell system includes a power generating unit, a fuel container which is connected to the power generating unit and contains a first fuel being a methanol aqueous solution, a replenishing container which is connected to the fuel container and contains a second fuel which is methanol or a methanol aqueous solution having a concentration higher than a concentration of the first fuel, and a control unit configured to reduce a concentration of the first fuel and a voltage of the power generating unit until a temperature of the power generating unit rises to a preset temperature value.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cathode, an anode, a fuel supply unit configured to supply a fuel containing methanol and water to the anode, a methanol supply unit configured to supply methanol to the fuel, a sensor which measures a methanol concentration of the fuel, a current measuring unit configured to measure a current flowing between the cathode and the anode, a concentration adjusting unit and a correction unit. The concentration adjusting unit is configured to adjust the methanol concentration of the fuel by controlling the methanol supply unit by using an output value of the sensor. The correction unit is configured to correct a data of a relation between the methanol concentration of the fuel and the output value of the sensor, using an output of the current measuring unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a casing, an electromotive element which is located in the casing and generates electric power through a chemical reaction, and a fuel container which is removably connected to the casing and contains a fuel to be supplied to the electromotive element. The casing has a base and a wall surface in the form of an outwardly convex curved surface.

Abstract: The embodiment of the invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a semiconductor electrode containing a dye and carboxylic compound, the dye and carboxylic compound being carried on a surface of the semiconductor electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte composition provided between the semiconductor electrode and the counter electrode, and containing an electrolyte that contains iodine and molten salt of iodide.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cartridge for supplying methanol aqueous solution to a direct methanol fuel cell system, comprising a memory which stores at least a concentration of the methanol aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye sensitized solar cell comprising an n-type semiconductor electrode containing a dye, an opposed electrode, and a gel electrolyte arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the opposed electrode and containing a gelling agent and an electrolyte that contains iodine, wherein the gelling agent contains a compound including an N-containing group and at least one atomic group selected from a group consisting of a sulfonic group and a carboxylic group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a gel electrolyte that contains a gelling agent and an electrolyte, wherein the gelling agent contains at least one kind of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a first polymer in which polysulfonic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two, a second polymer in which polycarboxylic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two, a third polymer in which a quatertiary ammonium salt of polysulfonic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two and a fourth polymer in which a quatertiary ammonium salt of polycarboxylic acid is crosslinked by a metal ion having a valency of not less than two.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell comprising a fuel cell body (stacked body) including a unit cell having an electromotive section in which an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode, and a liquid fuel tank for storing a liquid fuel that is to be supplied to the fuel cell body and connected to the fuel cell body. The liquid fuel is introduced by the capillary action into the unit cell included in the fuel cell body and vaporized within the unit cell so as to be supplied to the fuel electrode, thereby generating an electric power. The liquid fuel tank is provided with a pressure adjusting mechanism for introducing a required amount of the liquid fuel from a liquid outlet port into the unit cell.