Abstract: In a silicon nitride sintered body including silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase, dislocation defect portions exists inside at least some of the silicon nitride crystal grains. A percentage of a number of the at least some of the silicon nitride crystal grains among any 50 of the silicon nitride crystal grains having completely visible contours in any cross section or surface of the silicon nitride sintered body is not less than 50% and not more than 100%. It is favorable that a plate thickness of the silicon nitride substrate, in which the silicon nitride sintered body is used, is within the range not less than 0.1 mm and not more than 0.4 mm. The TCT characteristics can be improved by using the silicon nitride substrate in the silicon nitride circuit board.

Abstract: A sintered body includes a crystal grain containing silicon nitride, and a grain boundary phase. If dielectric losses of the sintered body are measured while applying an alternating voltage to the sintered body and continuously changing a frequency of the alternating voltage from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, an average value ?A of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 800 kHz to 1 MHz and an average value ?B of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 100 Hz to 200 Hz satisfy an expression |?A??B|?0.1.

Abstract: A sintered body includes a crystal grain containing silicon nitride, and a grain boundary phase. If dielectric losses of the sintered body are measured while applying an alternating voltage to the sintered body and continuously changing a frequency of the alternating voltage from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, an average value ?A of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 800 kHz to 1 MHz and an average value ?B of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 100 Hz to 200 Hz satisfy an expression |?A??B|?0.1.

Abstract: A sintered body includes a crystal grain containing silicon nitride, and a grain boundary phase. If dielectric losses of the sintered body are measured while applying an alternating voltage to the sintered body and continuously changing a frequency of the alternating voltage from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, an average value ?A of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 800 kHz to 1 MHz and an average value ?B of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 100 Hz to 200 Hz satisfy an expression |?A??B|?0.1.

Abstract: In a silicon nitride substrate including a silicon nitride sintered body including silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase, a plate thickness of the silicon nitride substrate is 0.4 mm or les, and a percentage of a number of the silicon nitride crystal grains including dislocation defect portions inside the silicon nitride crystal grains in a 50 ?m×50 ?m observation region of any cross section or surface of the silicon nitride sintered body is not less than 0% and not more than 20%. Etching resistance can be increased when forming the circuit board.

Abstract: In a silicon nitride substrate including a silicon nitride sintered body including silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase, a plate thickness of the silicon nitride substrate is 0.4 mm or les, and a percentage of a number of the silicon nitride crystal grains including dislocation defect portions inside the silicon nitride crystal grains in a 50 ?m×50 ?m observation region of any cross section or surface of the silicon nitride sintered body is not less than 0% and not more than 20%. Etching resistance can be increased when forming the circuit board.

Abstract: In a silicon nitride sintered body including silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase, dislocation defect portions exists inside at least some of the silicon nitride crystal grains. A percentage of a number of the at least some of the silicon nitride crystal grains among any 50 of the silicon nitride crystal grains having completely visible contours in any cross section or surface of the silicon nitride sintered body is not less than 50% and not more than 100%. It is favorable that a plate thickness of the silicon nitride substrate, in which the silicon nitride sintered body is used, is within the range not less than 0.1 mm and not more than 0.4 mm. The TCT characteristics can be improved by using the silicon nitride substrate in the silicon nitride circuit board.

Abstract: A sintered body includes a crystal grain containing silicon nitride, and a grain boundary phase. If dielectric losses of the sintered body are measured while applying an alternating voltage to the sintered body and continuously changing a frequency of the alternating voltage from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, an average value ?A of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 800 kHz to 1 MHz and an average value ?B of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 100 Hz to 200 Hz satisfy an expression |?A??B|?0.1.

Abstract: A polyelectrolyte material includes as a main chain: a benzene ring; an ether; and a carbonyl group. A part of the benzene ring is sulfonated. A method for manufacturing a polyelectrolyte material includes: synthesizing disulfonyl difluorobenzophenone; and polymerizing the disulfonyl difluorobenzophenone, 4,4?-difluorobenzophenone, and phenolphthalein with a crown ether as a catalyst. The synthesizing is performed by reacting 4,4?-difluorobenzophenone with fuming sulfuric acid, performing salting-out the reaction product, and recrystallizing the salting-out product.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: an anode catalyst layer containing an anode catalyst and a proton-conductive electrolyte; a cathode catalyst layer containing a cathode catalyst and a proton-conductive electrolyte; a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer; and a mechanism supplying a fuel to the anode catalyst layer, wherein a porosity of the anode catalyst layer as measured by a mercury intrusion porosimeter is 0 to 30%.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, a proton-conductive membrane provided between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer, and a fuel transmitting layer that supplies a vaporized component of a liquid fuel to the anode catalyst layer. Water generated in the cathode catalyst layer is supplied to the anode catalyst layer via the proton-conductive membrane. The liquid fuel is one of a methanol aqueous solution having a concentration of over 50% by molar and liquid methanol.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes a plurality of planar membrane electrode assemblies each produced by integrating a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, and a polyhedral package frame having plural planes which are disposed in a non-planar arrangement and support the plurality of membrane electrode assemblies so as to surround these membrane electrode assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly 10 having an electrolyte membrane 17 sandwiched by a fuel electrode 13 and an air electrode 16; a fuel supply part 43 disposed on the fuel electrode side of the membrane electrode assembly to supply a fuel to the fuel electrode 13; a fuel storage part 41 storing the fuel; and a fuel channel 44 leading the fuel stored in the fuel storage part to the fuel supply part. Since a fuel cell can generate electricity for a long time by being continuously supplied with a fuel, the fuel cell serves as a system advantageous as a power source of a portable electronic device such as a portable phone if it can be made compact.

Abstract: In an electronic device, state detection elements are arranged at various locations of a fuel cell system supplies an electric power to a phone unit, the state detection elements detect states of the fuel cell system at the locations. A cell state detection unit detects an operating state of the fuel cell from an output signal of each of the state detection elements. A determination unit determines an operating mode to prompt action to be taken for the operating state of the fuel cell detected by the cell state detection unit. A content of the operating mode is displayed with an image of a character or a fictitious creature based on a determination by the determination unit.

Abstract: A supported catalyst includes: a catalyst; and a carbon body. The catalyst is supported on the carbon body, and the carbon body is linear.

Abstract: A supported catalyst includes: a particulate first carbon material; and a particulate second carbon material supporting a catalyst, having a smaller center particle diameter than the first carbon material, and adsorbed on a surface of the first carbon material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell comprising: a cathode catalyst layer 2; an anode catalyst layer 3; a proton conductive membrane 6 disposed between the cathode catalyst layer 2 and the anode catalyst layer 3; a liquid fuel tank 9 for storing a liquid fuel L; a fuel vaporizing layer 10 for supplying a vaporized component of the liquid fuel L to the anode catalyst layer 3; a surface layer 15 having an air intake port 14 for supplying an air to the cathode catalyst layer 2; and a moisture retention plate 13A, disposed between the surface layer 15 and the cathode catalyst layer 2, for preventing water generated at the cathode catalyst layer from being evaporated, wherein the moisture retention plate is composed of a laminated body comprising at least two kind of porous members 13a and 13b each having different moisture permeability (moisture retention property).

Abstract: A polyelectrolyte material includes as a main chain: a benzene ring; an ether; and a carbonyl group. A part of the benzene ring is sulfonated. A method for manufacturing a polyelectrolyte material includes: synthesizing disulfonyl difluorobenzophenone; and polymerizing the disulfonyl difluorobenzophenone, 4,4?-difluorobenzophenone, and phenolphthalein with a crown ether as a catalyst. The synthesizing is performed by reacting 4,4?-difluorobenzophenone with fuming sulfuric acid, performing salting-out the reaction product, and recrystallizing the salting-out product.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte membrane includes: a porous material layer and an inorganic material layer. The porous material layer has a through-hole that is filled with an electrolyte. The inorganic material layer is provided so as to face to at least either side of a principal surface of the porous material layer and has an opening that is filled with an electrolyte. A solid electrolyte membrane alternatively includes: a first porous layer and a second porous layer. The first porous layer has a through-hole that is filled with an electrolyte. The second porous layer is provided so as to face to at least either side of a principal surface of the first porous layer and has an opening that is filled with an electrolyte. The average diameter of the opening is smaller than the average diameter of the through-hole.

Abstract: A fuel cell which generates electricity by using a fuel and oxygen, includes: an anode; a cathode; and a plate-like member provided between the anode and the cathode, the plate-like member including: a matrix having a plurality of through holes; and an electrolytic material buried in the through holes. The electrolytic material allows passage of protons and preventing passage of the fuel. The through holes have an aperture ratio distributed in the plate-like member so that the plate-like member has a uniform in-plane temperature when reaction between the anode and the cathode reaches a steady state.