Patents by Inventor Norikazu Aikawa
Norikazu Aikawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11335936Abstract: A ceramic sheet including a principal surface having particle marks is disclosed. The average width of the particle marks is 0.2 to 50 ?m, the average depth of the particle marks along the sheet thickness direction is 0.1 to 25 ?m, and the coefficient of variation of the widths of the particle marks is 0.23 or more.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norikazu Aikawa, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Kazuhisa Murakami
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Patent number: 10804557Abstract: The objective of one or more embodiments of the present invention is to provide a zirconia electrolyte which has high strength and which is suitable for a solid electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell, and a method for producing a zirconia electrolyte having high strength. The zirconia electrolyte according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is characterized in essentially consisting of zirconia stabilized by one or a plurality of oxides of rare earth selected from the group of scandium, yttrium, cerium, gadolinium and ytterbium, wherein a standard deviation of pore numbers in 10 or more regions having an area of 50 ?m2 and not overlapping with each other on a fracture surface is 2.5 or more.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norikazu Aikawa, Kazuo Hata, Nobuhisa Noda
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Publication number: 20200203748Abstract: A ceramic sheet including a principal surface having particle marks is disclosed. The average width of the particle marks is 0.2 to 50 ?m, the average depth of the particle marks along the sheet thickness direction is 0.1 to 25 ?m, and the coefficient of variation of the widths of the particle marks is 0.23 or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norikazu Aikawa, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Kazuhisa Murakami
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Publication number: 20180226671Abstract: The objective of one or more embodiments of the present invention is to provide a zirconia electrolyte which has high strength and which is suitable for a solid electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell, and a method for producing a zirconia electrolyte having high strength. The zirconia electrolyte according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is characterized in essentially consisting of zirconia stabilized by one or a plurality of oxides of rare earth selected from the group of scandium, yttrium, cerium, gadolinium and ytterbium, wherein a standard deviation of pore numbers in 10 or more regions having an area of 50 ?m2 and not overlapping with each other on a fracture surface is 2.5 or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Norikazu AIKAWA, Kazuo HATA, Nobuhisa NODA
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Patent number: 9698443Abstract: In at least one of principal surfaces of the electrolyte sheet for a solid oxide fuel cell of the present invention, (1) a burr height [?H (0-3)] in a first zone is 100 ?m or less, as measured by irradiating the principal surface of the sheet with a laser beam at a pitch of 0.01 mm using a laser optical three-dimensional shape measurement device, the first zone being a zone extending between a peripheral edge of the sheet and a position 3 mm inside the peripheral edge, and (2) a ratio [?H (0.61-3)/?H (0-0.6)] of a burr height [?H (0.61-3)] in a third zone to a burr height [?H (0-0.6)] in a second zone is 0.5 or more and 2.0 or less, as calculated from the burr heights measured by irradiating the principal surface of the sheet with a laser beam at a pitch of 0.01 mm using the laser optical three-dimensional shape measurement device, the second zone being a zone extending between the peripheral edge of the sheet and a position 0.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Norikazu Aikawa
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Patent number: 9601795Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a scandia-stabilized zirconia sheet. The method includes the steps of: (1) pulverizing a scandia-stabilized zirconia sintered body to obtain a sintered scandia-stabilized zirconia powder having an average particle diameter (De), determined by a transmission electron microscope, in the range of 0.3-1.5 ?m, and an average particle diameter (Dr), determined by a laser scattering method, in the range of 0.3-3.0 ?m, where a ratio of Dr/De is at least 1.0-2.5; (2) preparing a slurry containing the sintered scandia-stabilized zirconia powder and an unsintered zirconia powder, where a percentage of the sintered scandia-stabilized zirconia powder to a sum of the sintered scandia-stabilized zirconia powder and the unsintered zirconia powder in the slurry is at least 2 mass % and at most 40 mass %; (3) molding the slurry into a green sheet; and (4) sintering the green sheet.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa
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Publication number: 20150270569Abstract: In at least one of principal surfaces of the electrolyte sheet for a solid oxide fuel cell of the present invention, (1) a burr height [?H (0-3)] in a first zone is 100 ?m or less, as measured by irradiating the principal surface of the sheet with a laser beam at a pitch of 0.01 mm using a laser optical three-dimensional shape measurement device, the first zone being a zone extending between a peripheral edge of the sheet and a position 3 mm inside the peripheral edge, and (2) a ratio [?H (0.61-3)/?H (0-0.6)] of a burr height [?H (0.61-3)] in a third zone to a burr height [?H (0-0.6)] in a second zone is 0.5 or more and 2.0 or less, as calculated from the burr heights measured by irradiating the principal surface of the sheet with a laser beam at a pitch of 0.01 mm using the laser optical three-dimensional shape measurement device, the second zone being a zone extending between the peripheral edge of the sheet and a position 0.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Norikazu Aikawa
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Patent number: 8703346Abstract: An electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel batteries with mechanical strength characteristics is proposed. These characteristics may include a high and stable average value of strength, Weibull coefficient, and a high adhesion to an electrode formed on a surface thereof and hence inhibits the electrode from interfacial separation from the electrolyte sheet. The electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel batteries is characterized by having a plurality of concaves and/or convexes on at least one surface thereof, the concaves and convexes having base faces which are circular or elliptic or are a rounded polygon in which the vertexes have a curved shape with a curvature radius of 0.1 ?m or larger and/or the concaves and convexes having a three-dimensional shape which is semispherical or semiellipsoidal or is a polyhedron in which the vertexes and the edges have a curved cross-sectional shape having a curvature radius of 0.1 ?m or larger.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2010Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., LtdInventors: Takeshi Satake, Fumihide Tamura, Norikazu Aikawa, Kazuo Hata
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Publication number: 20120231368Abstract: The process for production of a scandia-stabilized zirconia sheet according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of pulverizing a scandia-stabilized zirconia sintered body to obtain a scandia-stabilized zirconia sintered powder having an average particle diameter (De) determined using a transmission electron microscope of more than 0.3 ?m and not more than 1.5 ?m, and an average particle diameter (Dr) determined by a laser scattering method of more than 0.3 ?m and not more than 3.0 ?m, and a ratio (Dr/De) of the average particle diameter determined by the laser scattering method to the average particle diameter determined using the transmission electron microscope of not less than 1.0 and not more than 2.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa
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Publication number: 20120021304Abstract: An electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel batteries with mechanical strength characteristics is proposed. These characteristics may include a high and stable average value of strength, Weibull coefficient, and a high adhesion to an electrode formed on a surface thereof and hence inhibits the electrode from interfacial separation from the electrolyte sheet. The electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel batteries is characterized by having a plurality of concaves and/or convexes on at least one surface thereof, the concaves and convexes having base faces which are circular or elliptic or are a rounded polygon in which the vertexes have a curved shape with a curvature radius of 0.1 ?m or larger and/or the concaves and convexes having a three-dimensional shape which is semispherical or semiellipsoidal or is a polyhedron in which the vertexes and the edges have a curved cross-sectional shape having a curvature radius of 0.1 ?m or larger.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: Nippon Shokubai Co., LtdInventors: Takeshi Satake, Fumihide Tamura, Norikazu Aikawa, Kazuo Hata
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Patent number: 7807257Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic sheet having uniform quality over its entire surface with a decreased number of detects such as foreign matters and flaws. When the ceramic sheet was divided into sections of 30 mm square or smaller, each divided section has 5 or less defects detected based on an image obtained with a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The present invention also relates to a method for producing the ceramic sheet. In this method, a green sheet or a calcined sheet mainly including spherical ceramic particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to less than 5 ?m was used as a spacer. By using this spacer, the green sheet for ceramic sheet slides smoothly on the spacer surface when it shrinks in baking, and the friction resistance between the green sheet for ceramic sheet and the spacer is lowered. In this manner, the method of the present invention can mass-produce the above-described high quality ceramic sheets.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Keijirou Takasaki
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Patent number: 7781045Abstract: The present invention provides electrolyte sheets for solid oxide fuel cells, the electrolyte sheets being able to improve their adhesion to electrode films formed on both surfaces thereof and being also able to improve electric power generation characteristics of fuel cells by an increase in their electrode reaction areas. There is disclosed an electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel cells including a sintered sheet, wherein surface roughness of the sheet as measured by an optical and laser-based non-contact three-dimensional profile measuring system is 2.0 to 20 ?m in Rz and 0.20 to 3.0 ?m in Ra, and wherein a ratio of Rz of one surface (having a greater Rz and a greater Ra) to Rz of the other surface having a smaller Rz and a smaller Ra is in a range of 1.0 to 3.0, and a ratio of Ra of one surface (having a greater Rz and a greater Ra) to Ra of the other surface having a smaller Rz and a smaller Ra is in a range of 1.0 to 3.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa
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Publication number: 20090047562Abstract: The method of the present invention for producing a solid electrolyte sheet for a solid oxide fuel cells is characterized in comprising steps of obtaining a large-sized thin zirconia green sheet by molding and drying a slurry containing zirconia particles, a binder, a plasticizer and a dispersion medium; pressing the zirconia green sheet in the thickness direction with a pressure of not less than 10 MPa and not more than 40 MPa; firing the pressed zirconia green sheet at 1200 to 1500° C.; and controlling a time period when a temperature is within the range of from 500° C. to 200° C. to not less than 100 minutes and not more than 400 minutes when cooling the sheet after firing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2006Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
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Patent number: 7422822Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures is provided, including a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode and bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, and an air electrode bonded to the other side of the first electrolyte comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte. The electrodes are coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignees: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
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Publication number: 20070148521Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures is provided, including a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode and bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, and an air electrode bonded to the other side of the first electrolyte comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte. The electrodes are coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: June 28, 2007Applicants: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji UKAI, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
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Patent number: 7235325Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures, is provided, including a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode and bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, and an air electrode bonded to the other side of the first electrolyte comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte. The electrodes are coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2004Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignees: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
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Publication number: 20060228555Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic sheet having uniform quality over its entire surface with a decreased number of detects such as foreign matters and flaws. When the ceramic sheet was divided into sections of 30 mm square or smaller, each divided section has 5 or less defects detected based on an image obtained with a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The present invention also relates to a method for producing the ceramic sheet. In this method, a green sheet or a calcined sheet mainly including spherical ceramic particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to less than 5 ?m was used as a spacer. By using this spacer, the green sheet for ceramic sheet slides smoothly on the spacer surface when it shrinks in baking, and the friction resistance between the green sheet for ceramic sheet and the spacer is lowered. In this manner, the method of the present invention can mass-produce the above-described high quality ceramic sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2006Publication date: October 12, 2006Applicant: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Keijirou Takasaki
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Patent number: 7108827Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic sheet having uniform quality over its entire surface with a decreased number of defects such as foreign matters and flaws. When the ceramic sheet was divided into sections of 30 mm square or smaller, each divided section has 5 or less defects detected based on an image obtained with a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the ceramic sheet. In this method, a green sheet or a calcined sheet mainly including spherical ceramic particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to less than 5 ?m was used as a spacer. By using this spacer, the green sheet for ceramic sheet slides smoothly on the spacer surface when it shrinks in baking, and the friction resistance between the green sheet for ceramic sheet and the spacer is lowered. In this manner, the method of the present invention can mass-produce the above-described high quality ceramic sheets.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Keijirou Takasaki
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Publication number: 20050271919Abstract: The present invention provides electrolyte sheets for solid oxide fuel cells, the electrolyte sheets being able to improve their adhesion to electrode films formed on both surfaces thereof and being also able to improve electric power generation characteristics of fuel cells by an increase in their electrode reaction areas. There is disclosed an electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel cells including a sintered sheet, wherein surface roughness of the sheet as measured by an optical and laser-based non-contact three-dimensional profile measuring system is 2.0 to 20 ?m in Rz and 0.20 to 3.0 ?m in Ra, and wherein a ratio of Rz of one surface (having a greater Rz and a greater Ra) to Rz of the other surface having a smaller Rz and a smaller Ra is in a range of 1.0 to 3.0, and a ratio of Ra of one surface (having a greater Rz and a greater Ra) to Ra of the other surface having a smaller Rz and a smaller Ra is in a range of 1.0 to 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2003Publication date: December 8, 2005Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa
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Publication number: 20050255355Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures, excellent in generating performance and reliability even in a low-temperature region of the order of 600 to 900° C., and in adhesion to a separator with low current-collecting loss when used in SOFC. The cell has a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with the conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, and an air electrode comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte, bonded to the other side optionally via an intermediate layer comprised of a fourth solid electrolyte, and the electrodes are preferably coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2004Publication date: November 17, 2005Applicants: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura