Abstract: The fuel cell includes a first separator electrically insulated from an anode, a first conductive member connected to the anode and passing through the first separator while being electrically insulated from the first separator, a second separator electrically insulated from the cathode, and a second conductive member connected to the cathode and passing through the second separator while being electrically insulated from the second separator.

Abstract: A leak inspection method includes: a gas confining step of confining a fuel gas with a predetermined pressure in a fuel gas flow field; a gas supply step of continuing to supply an oxygen-containing gas with a pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure or equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure to an oxygen-containing gas flow field; and a measurement step of measuring the amount of pressure change per unit time of the gas confined in the gas confining step, when a switch provided to a wiring connecting an anode and a cathode without passing through an electrolyte membrane is in an OFF state.

Abstract: In this fuel cell, a cathode-side porous film that covers a cathode electrode is interposed between the cathode electrode and an air supply layer, the cathode electrode constituting electrolyte film/electrode structures. In addition, breathing holes are formed in the cathode-side porous film, and the air flowing through air supply passages passes through the breathing holes and is supplied to the cathode electrode.

Abstract: According to the present invention, electrolyte membrane electrode structures have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell according to the present invention is additionally provided with a fuel gas supply layer that is provided with a fuel gas supply path in which a fuel gas to be supplied to the anode electrode flows. A wall part between fuel gas supply paths in the fuel gas supply layer is superposed on the interconnect part, with the anode electrode being interposed therebetween.

Abstract: This fuel cell is provided with a first electrolyte membrane electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane electrode structure, respective cathode electrodes of which face each other with an oxidant gas supply layer being interposed therebetween. The oxidant gas supply layer has: a first projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the first electrolyte membrane electrode structure; and a second projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the second electrolyte membrane electrode structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell manufacturing method capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell is provided. The interconnector part (30) is formed through a local heating process of carbonizing a proton conductive resin by locally heating an electrolyte membrane (12). The local heating process includes: a first heating step of heating a part of the electrolyte membrane (12) to a temperature equal to or less than a first temperature at a first temperature increase rate or less; and a second heating step of heating the part of the electrolyte membrane (12) to a temperature equal to or greater than a second temperature higher than the first temperature at a temperature increase rate greater than the first temperature increase rate, after the first heating step.

Abstract: Electrolyte membrane electrode structures that constitute a fuel cell according to the present invention have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane electrode structures are sealed in a laminate layer which is obtained by bonding an anode-side porous film that covers the anode electrode and a cathode-side porous film that covers the cathode electrodes with each other.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of fuel cell and a fuel cell are provided. The manufacturing method of fuel cell includes a first slit formation process in which first slits are formed in a first electrode, an electrolyte membrane lamination process in which an electrolyte membrane is laminated on the first electrode, an IC formation process in which interconnector portions are formed on the electrolyte membrane, a second slit formation process in which second slits are formed in a second electrode, a second electrode lamination process in which the second electrode is laminated on the electrolyte membrane, and a side edge portion removal process in which side edge portions of the first electrode and the second electrode are removed to divide the first electrode into a plurality of parts via the first slits and to divide the second electrode into a plurality of parts via the second slits.

Abstract: In this fuel cell, a cathode-side porous film that covers a cathode electrode is interposed between the cathode electrode and an air supply layer, the cathode electrode constituting electrolyte film/electrode structures. In addition, breathing holes are formed in the cathode-side porous film, and the air flowing through air supply passages passes through the breathing holes and is supplied to the cathode electrode.

Abstract: Electrolyte membrane electrode structures that constitute a fuel cell according to the present invention have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane electrode structures are sealed in a laminate layer which is obtained by bonding an anode-side porous film that covers the anode electrode and a cathode-side porous film that covers the cathode electrodes with each other.

Abstract: This fuel cell is provided with a first electrolyte membrane electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane electrode structure, respective cathode electrodes of which face each other with an oxidant gas supply layer being interposed therebetween. The oxidant gas supply layer has: a first projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the first electrolyte membrane electrode structure; and a second projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the second electrolyte membrane electrode structure.

Abstract: According to the present invention, electrolyte membrane electrode structures have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell according to the present invention is additionally provided with a fuel gas supply layer that is provided with a fuel gas supply path in which a fuel gas to be supplied to the anode electrode flows. A wall part between fuel gas supply paths in the fuel gas supply layer is superposed on the interconnect part, with the anode electrode being interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of fuel cell and a fuel cell are provided. The manufacturing method of fuel cell includes a first slit formation process in which first slits are formed in a first electrode, an electrolyte membrane lamination process in which an electrolyte membrane is laminated on the first electrode, an IC formation process in which interconnector portions are formed on the electrolyte membrane, a second slit formation process in which second slits are formed in a second electrode, a second electrode lamination process in which the second electrode is laminated on the electrolyte membrane, and a side edge portion removal process in which side edge portions of the first electrode and the second electrode are removed to divide the first electrode into a plurality of parts via the first slits and to divide the second electrode into a plurality of parts via the second slits.

Abstract: In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and a plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. At least the electrode layer on the one surface includes a catalyst layer having catalytic activity and containing proton conductive resin; and a protection layer located between the catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane, having electric conductivity and having a higher filling density of proton conductive resin than that of the catalyst layer. The interconnector part is covered with the protection layer on the one surface.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell. In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and the plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. The interconnector part is formed by heating and carbonizing a proton conductive resin in the electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive resin can be heated by laser beam irradiation.

Abstract: A fuel cell manufacturing method capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell is provided. The interconnector part (30) is formed through a local heating process of carbonizing a proton conductive resin by locally heating an electrolyte membrane (12). The local heating process includes: a first heating step of heating a part of the electrolyte membrane (12) to a temperature equal to or less than a first temperature at a first temperature increase rate or less; and a second heating step of heating the part of the electrolyte membrane (12) to a temperature equal to or greater than a second temperature higher than the first temperature at a temperature increase rate greater than the first temperature increase rate, after the first heating step.

Abstract: In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and a plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. At least the electrode layer on the one surface includes a catalyst layer having catalytic activity and containing proton conductive resin; and a protection layer located between the catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane, having electric conductivity and having a higher filling density of proton conductive resin than that of the catalyst layer. The interconnector part is covered with the protection layer on the one surface.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell. In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and the plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. The interconnector part is formed by heating and carbonizing a proton conductive resin in the electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive resin can be heated by laser beam irradiation.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus for a selenization process or a sulphurization process carried out when forming a light absorbing layer in a chalcopyrite-type solar cell, comprises a quartz tube in which a plurality of solar cell substrates is arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals in a thickness direction, a heating mechanism for heating atmospheric gas, which is arranged at an outside of the quartz tube, and first baffle plates arranged upward of the substrates, in which heated atmospheric gas, which rises along an inner surface of the quartz tube, is guided from upward to the center of the substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing sporangia of Bacillus popilliae containing spores and parasporal bodies in large numbers per unit volume of medium. In a process for producing sporangia of Bacillus popilliae containing spores and parasporal bodies by culturing Bacillus popilliae in a liquid medium containing an adsorbent, the liquid medium contains 0.1–0.7% by weight of proline.