Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises: a plurality of electrode structures comprising an anode and a cathode, and polymer electrolyte membrane held between the anode and the cathode, and a plurality of separators for holding the respective electrode structures, with a fuel gas passage for supplying and discharging fuel gas containing hydrogen on a surface opposing the anode; and an oxidant gas passage for supplying and discharging oxidant gas on a surface opposing the cathode. The catalyst layer of the anode comprises a mixture of an ion conductive material, a platinum powder and/or platinum alloy powder and a carbon, the platinum powder and/or platinum alloy powder and carbon substantially exist independently from each other, and the catalyst layer of the cathode comprises a metal support mixture in which the ion conductive material and the electro-conductive material having the supported catalyst material are mixed.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by the electrodes, the catalyst layer of the cathode electrode containing a catalyst supporting particle in which a precious metal is supported on heat-treated carbon black or activated carbon, an ion conductive material, and a crystalline carbon fiber. Heat treatment is preferably applied at 2,500 to 3,000° C. (degrees Celsius). The membrane electrode assembly provides superior power generation performance.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle including an outer rim and an inner rim, in which the outer rim is comprised of a disk section formed by embossing a first portion having a certain thickness and a rim section formed by drawing a second portion having a smaller thickness than the first portion so as to make a periphery of the disk section; and the inner rim is comprised of superimposed portions formed by drawing and to be superimposed on prescribed positions of the disk section of the outer rim. Flange sections of the outer and inner rims are respectively inwardly curled so as to form a double-layered structure. The outer and inner rims are integrated by welding with the superimposed portions set at the prescribed positions of the disk section.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by these electrodes, the catalyst layer of cathode electrode contains a Pt—Co catalyst that is Pt—Co alloys supported by an electrical conductive material, and crystalline carbon fibers, improving the catalyst activity and controlling the oxidization corrosion reaction of the catalyst carrier can be carried out, and providing a high initial performance and superior durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which is inexpensive and has an excellent efficiency of generating electric power, by using a material alternative to a perfluoroalkylene sulfonic acid polymer. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a pair of electrodes (2, 3) consisting of an oxygen electrode (2) and a fuel electrode (3) both having a catalyst layer (5) containing a catalyst and an ion conducting material; and a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) sandwiched between the two catalyst layers (5) of the both electrodes (2, 3). The above ion conducting material contained in the above polymer electrolyte membrane (1) or in the catalyst (5) layer of at least one of the above electrodes (2, 3) comprises a sulfonated polyarylene having sulfonic acid side-chain groups.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by these electrodes, the catalyst layer of cathode electrode contains a Pt—Co catalyst that is Pt—Co alloys supported by an electrical conductive material, and crystalline carbon fibers, improving the catalyst activity and controlling the oxidization corrosion reaction of the catalyst carrier can be carried out, and providing a high initial performance and superior durability.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by the electrodes, the catalyst layer of the cathode electrode containing a catalyst supporting particle in which a precious metal is supported on heat-treated carbon black or activated carbon, an ion conductive material, and a crystalline carbon fiber. Heat treatment is preferably applied at 2,500 to 3,000° C. (degrees Celsius). The membrane electrode assembly provides superior power generation performance.

Abstract: A solid polymer fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane having a polymer ion-exchange component, and an air electrode and a fuel electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched. Each of the air electrode and the fuel electrode can be formed of a polymer ion-exchange component and a plurality of catalyst particles including a catalyst metal carried on surfaces of carbon black particles, and includes no third component. When a moistening for maintaining the electrolyte membrane in a wet state is carried out from both of the side of the air electrode and the side of the fuel electrode, the carbon black particles have a water-repellent property such that an amount A of water adsorbed under a saturated steam pressure at 60° C. is equal to or smaller than 80 cc/g, and a ratio Wp/Wc of a weight Wp of polymer ion-exchange component incorporated to a weight Wc of carbon black particles incorporated is set in a range of 0.4?Wp/Wc?1.25.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises: a plurality of electrode structures comprising an anode and a cathode, and polymer electrolyte membrane held between the anode and the cathode, and a plurality of separators for holding the respective electrode structures, with a fuel gas passage for supplying and discharging fuel gas containing hydrogen on a surface opposing the anode; and an oxidant gas passage for supplying and discharging oxidant gas on a surface opposing the cathode. The catalyst layer of the anode comprises a mixture of an ion conductive material, a platinum powder and/or platinum alloy powder and a carbon, the platium powder and/or platinum alloy powder and carbon substantially exist independently from each other, and the catalyst layer of the cathode comproses a metal support mixture in which the ion conductive material and the electro-conductive material having the supported catalyst material are mixed.

Abstract: A composite polymer electrolyte membrane is formed from a first polymer electrolyte comprising a sulfonated polyarytene polymer and a second polymer electrolyte comprising another hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte. In the first polymer electrolyte, 2-70 mol % constitutes an aromatic compound unit with an electron-attractive group in its principal chain, while 30-98 mol % constitutes an aromatic compound unit without an electron-attractive group in its principal chain. The second polymer electrolyte is a sulfonated polyether or sulfonated polysulfide polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode paste composition that enables a sufficient pore volume of electrode for high generating performance while maintaining good storage stability. The paste composition comprises a carbon black supporting a hydrogen reduction catalyst, an electrolyte, an organic solvent having a boiling point of 100 to 200° C., a water-soluble organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 100° C., and optionally one or more components selected from a dispersant, a carbon fiber and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which is inexpensive and has an excellent efficiency of generating electric power, by using a material alternative to a perfluoroalkylene sulfonic acid polymer. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a pair of electrodes (2, 3) consisting of an oxygen electrode (2) and a fuel electrode (3) both having a catalyst layer (5) containing a catalyst and an ion conducting material; and a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) sandwiched between the two catalyst layers (5) of the both electrodes (2, 3).

Abstract: A membrane-electrode structure capable of exhibiting excellent electric power generation performance even in a high current region and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the membrane-electrode structure are provided. Additionally, electric appliances and transport machines each using the above-described polymer electrolyte fuel cell are provided. The membrane-electrode structure comprises an anode electrode 2a, a cathode electrode 2b and a polymer electrolyte membrane 3 made of a sulfonated polyarylene based polymer and held between both electrodes 2a, 2b. The cathode electrode 2b comprises an electrode catalyst layer 4b containing a catalyst particle having the catalyst loaded on the carbon particles, a pore forming member and an ion conducting polymer falling within the weight ratio range from 1.0 to 1.8 in relation to said carbon particles, and is in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane 3 through the electrode catalyst layer 4b.

Abstract: A composite polymer electrolyte membrane is formed from a first polymer electrolyte comprising a sulfonated polyarylene polymer and a second polymer electrolyte comprising another hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte. In the first polymer electrolyte, 2-70 mol % constitutes an aromatic compound unit with an electron-attractive group in its principal chain, while 30-98 mol % constitutes an aromatic compound unit without an electron-attractive group in its principal chain. The second polymer electrolyte is a sulfonated polyether or sulfonated polysulfide polymer electrolyte. The composite polymer electrolyte membrane is formed from a matrix comprising the first polymer electrolyte selected from among sulfonated polyarylene polymers and having an ion exchange capacity in excess of 1.5 meq/g but less than 3.0 meq/g, which is supported on a reinforcement comprising the second polymer electrolyte having an ion exchange capacity in excess of 0.5 meq/g but less than 1.5 meq/g.

Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly comprising a pair of opposing electrodes each having a catalytic layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by the electrodes, part of the catalytic layers being projecting into the polymer electrolyte membrane is produced by (1) coating a catalytic layer of one electrode with a solution of a polymer electrolyte in an organic solvent, (2) coating the resultant polymer electrolyte membrane with a catalyst slurry for the other electrode, while the amount of the organic solvent remaining in the polymer electrolyte membrane is 5-20 weight % based on the polymer electrolyte membrane, and (3) after drying, hot-pressing the polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrodes formed on both sides of the membrane.

Abstract: A solid polymer fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane having a polymer ion-exchange component, and an air electrode and a fuel electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched. Each of the air electrode and the fuel electrode can be formed of a polymer ion-exchange component and a plurality of catalyst particles including a catalyst metal carried on surfaces of carbon black particles, and includes no third component. When a moistening for maintaining the electrolyte membrane in a wet state is carried out from both of the side of the air electrode and the side of the fuel electrode, the carbon black particles have a water-repellent property such that an amount A of water adsorbed under a saturated steam pressure at 60° C. is equal to or smaller than 80 cc/g, and a ratio Wp/Wc of a weight Wp of polymer ion-exchange component incorporated to a weight Wc of carbon black particles incorporated is set in a range of 0.4≦Wp/Wc≦1.25.

Abstract: With an abrasive dresser for a polishing disc of a chemical-mechanical polisher for abrading a flat rotatable polishing disc of a chemical-mechanical polisher which supplies a chemical polishing agent to the surface of the polishing disc to polish the surface of an article on top of the polishing disc, a sectional shape of an abrasive surface being a peripheral portion of a flat disc shaped base member which protrudes upwards over a predetermined width with an abrasive grit distributed substantially uniformly over and affixed to the surface thereof, is formed as a convex circular arc curved surface. In this way, the portion of contact with the polishing disc of the chemical-mechanical polisher becomes surface contact, thereby enabling a reduction in wear during use and an increase in life, together with an increase in the efficiency of abrading the polishing disc.