Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a thin and light electrochemical device using a solid polymer electrolytic film, which is capable of maintaining its steady performance for a long time even at a high humidity condition and a process for preparing the same. The device comprises inserting and pressuring the jointed electrochemical device 10 between a pair of pressing plates 30 and 31, wherein the jointed electrochemical device 10 is obtained by jointing the anode and the cathode having a catalytic layer on a base substrate of conductive porous material to both sides of the solid polymer electrolytic film, and wherein the pressing plates have the opening part having an area smaller than an electrochemical reaction part formed by facing the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode provided on one surface of the electrolyte membrane and having an anode catalyst layer that is supplied with fuel and contains a platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst, and an cathode provided on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane and having an cathode catalyst layer that is supplied with air and contains a platinum catalyst. The anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer are composed of a plurality of divided catalyst segments, and gaps are present between the divided catalyst segments adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine featuring improved purifying efficiency even in a lean operating condition without deteriorating the fuel efficiency. The device comprises an electrochemical catalyst 5 installed in the exhaust system 3 of the internal combustion engine 1, the electrochemical catalyst 5 containing an electron conducting substance and an ion conducting substance, the oxidizing reaction and the reducing reaction being promoted by the conduction of ions and electrons, thereby to electrochemically purify the exhaust gas G in the exhaust system.

Abstract: There is obtained a fuel cell which has stable characteristics and produces high voltage/high output. The fuel cell uses a laminate in which single cells each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte film sandwiched therebetween are sequentially stacked on each other through a separator plate. Fuel flow channels and oxidant flow channels are provided in the separator plate, and communicating holes are provided at the midway portion thereof. The flow channels in the separator plate communicate, through the communicating holes, with the flow channels in another separator plate through which the same kind of gas flows so that the same kind of gases flow into each other.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a main stack alternately stacked with cells each provided with gas-diffusing electrodes on both sides of an ion-conducting electrolyte membrane and gas separators for supplying fuel to one of the electrodes and oxidant gas to the other electrode on each of the cells, and an auxiliary stack alternately stacked with the cells and the gas separators, the auxiliary stack having a lesser number of cells and gas separators than the main stack and having an independent current path from the main stack, wherein fuel and oxidant gas are supplied to the main stack after passing through the auxiliary stack, and wherein the load on the auxiliary stack is controlled. The load on the auxiliary stack is additionally controlled such that the electric potential of the fuel electrodes of the auxiliary stack exceeds the electric potential of the oxidation of carbon monoxide, whereby the voltage per layer of cell in the auxiliary stack continuously oscillates.

Abstract: The long side of a rectangular first separator plate of a fuel cell is divided into n equal area smaller rectangular parts so that the long sides of the rectangular parts are not larger than 2½ and not smaller than ½½ the length of the short sides. Through holes pass through a stack of plates substantially at centers of the smaller rectangles. Bolts having an annular elastic member at one end pass through the through holes, and the stack is clamped together.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a thin and light electrochemical device using a solid polymer electrolytic film, which is capable of maintaining its steady performance for a long time even at a high humidity condition and a process for preparing the same. The device comprises inserting and pressuring the jointed electrochemical device 10 between a pair of pressing plates 30 and 31, wherein the jointed electrochemical device 10 is obtained by jointing the anode and the cathode having a catalytic layer on a base substrate of conductive porous material to both sides of the solid polymer electrolytic film, and wherein the pressing plates have the opening part having an area smaller than an electrochemical reaction part formed by facing the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: An oxygen concentration controlling element where the shortest distance between the anode and cathode separated by a solid electrolyte film is set not larger than 50 .mu.m, thereby to accelerate the back-diffusion of water generated in the cathode to the anode and dispense with a tank or a pump for supplying water to the anode. An oxygen concentration or humidity controlling apparatus where a photoelectric element is disposed at an opening of a to-be-controlled space to the atmospheric air and the electric energy from the photoelectric element is accumulated in a secondary battery, thus realizing space-saving apparatus which can operate continuously though the power is turned off, and a humidity controlling apparatus functioning both as a humidifier and as a dehumidifier.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel battery comprises a stack of molten carbonate fuel cells. A half-cell anode and a half-cell cathode are disposed at the positive and negative ends which are defined by the end cathode and end anode, respectively, of the stack, with respective separators disposed therebetween. The half-cell anode includes an anode electrode and an anode reaction gas flow path, but does not include a matrix, and the half-cell cathode includes a cathode electrode and a cathode reaction gas flow path, but does not include a matrix.

Abstract: An electrochemical single battery such as fuel cells, and so forth, having an increased reaction area to augment its output density, which comprises a pair of electrode parts which are mutually opposed to be the electrodes when the electrochemical reaction is effected; reaction layers to carry out the electrochemical reaction, which are positioned between these two electrode parts, each being protruded alternately in one and the same direction from one electrode part toward the other electrode part in confrontation thereto, and being a slant with respect to said electrode parts; and an electrolyte layer interposed between these confronted reaction layers and holding therein an electrolyte which transmits ions to be produced at the time of the electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: A fuel cell having a receiver extending from a side surface of a stacked-cell body of a fuel cell and adapted to receive surplus electrolyte falling along the side surface, and a barrier disposed on the receiver and adapted to catch the electrolyte discharged from a reserve plate while partially restricting an opening which serves as the outlet of a reaction gas flow path. The electrolyte discharged from one single cell can positively be recovered and returned to the same single cell without causing any substantial pressure loss.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement of the gas sealing at the periphery of the electrode base and separator which constitute the fuel cell. Provided herein is a method for sealing the gas of a phosphoric acid-type fuel cell which comprises filling the pores in the porous material periphery of the cell constituents with fine particles of at least one of silicon carbide and silicon nitride which have undergone surface oxidation treatment, and causing particles to expand in volume through the reaction of the surface oxide of the particles with hot phosphoric acid that yields phosphate compounds, thereby clogging the pores.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a fuel cell comprises placing a coating roller opposing a feeding roller with a space through which an electrode substrate is passed, placing a doctor roller with respect to the coating roller so as to keep a space which is adjustable, arranging a paste reservoir above the doctor roller and the coating roller so that paste flows to the space between the doctor roller and the coating roller, rotating the feeding roller in a specified direction while the coating roller is rotated in the same direction as the feeding roller to transfer the paste on the electrode substrate.

Abstract: A single component cell for a phosphoric acid type fuel cell, constructed with a matrix base which consists principally of phosphoric-acid-resistant inorganic substance powder, and a buffer layer which is principally composed of zirconium phosphate and interposed between catalyst layers of fuel electrode and oxidant electrode, so as to prevent the catalyst layers from being damaged by the matrix base.