Abstract: A hydrogen separator is provided, including a porous substrate having a large number of pores communicating from a first surface to a second surface thereof, and having a hydrogen-separating layer disposed on the first surface so that the hydrogen-separating layer has a penetrated portion extending through the pores from the first surface to a particular depth. An average pore diameter at the first surface of the porous substrate is 0.02 to 0.5 ?m, a thickness of the hydrogen-separating layer is 1 to 5 ?m, and a penetration depth of the penetrated portion is 0.05 to 1 ?m, is at least equal to the average pore diameter at the one surface of the porous substrate, and is not larger than one half of the thickness of the hydrogen-separating layer. The hydrogen separator hardly generates defects such as cracks, peeling and the like in the hydrogen-separating layer, is superior in durability, and provides both good hydrogen-separating ability and good hydrogen permeability.

Abstract: A carbon fiber woven fabric for use as a gas diffusion layer base material in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a surface that is smoothed and further optimized to inhibit non-uniform infiltration of a coating for water-repellent-layer formation, to provide an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly suitable for operation under a high humidification condition. The gas diffusion layer base material may be a carbon fiber woven fabric, wherein a ratio of the area of gap portions where neither warp thread nor weft thread exists: (10/W?Y)(10/Z?X) to the area of portions where warp thread is crossing weft thread: XY mm2 is in the range of about 1/1500 to about 1/5, where the carbon fiber woven fabric has a warp density of Z threads/cm, a weft density of W threads/cm, a warp thickness of X mm and a weft thickness of Y mm.

Abstract: There is disclosed a permselective membrane type reactor which efficiently forms hydrogen by use of a water-gas shift reaction and which is excellent in an aspect of manufacturing cost. In a permselective membrane type reactor 100, a permselective membrane 3 is a Pd membrane or a Pd alloy membrane, and a catalyst layer 4 includes a first catalyst layer 4a on the side of the permselective membrane 3 and a second catalyst layer 4b disposed apart from the permselective membrane 3. The first catalyst layer 4a has a noble metal-based catalyst, and the second catalyst layer 4b has an iron-based catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an increased reaction area by forming a gas channel, a proton channel and an electron channel very close to each other inside a catalyst layer. This polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes having catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers, in which the catalyst layer of at least one of the electrodes comprises carbon particles supporting a noble metal catalyst, and the carbon particles include at least two kinds of carbon particles adsorbing a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte in mutually different dispersed states.

Abstract: There are provided measuring units of measuring the amount of fluoride ions in the waste material from a fuel cell which receives a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas containing oxygen to undergo electrochemical reaction by which electricity is generated and a life predicting unit of predicting the life of the fuel cell by the use of the amount of fluoride ions thus measured.

Abstract: There is disclosed a membrane reactor 100 for a shift reaction including a selectively permeable membrane 3 having an H2-selective permeation ability and a catalyst 4 which promotes a chemical reaction, the selectively permeable membrane 3 is a Pd membrane or a Pd alloy membrane, the catalyst 4 is a precious metal catalyst, and the selectively permeable membrane preferably has a thickness of 20 ?m or less. The membrane reactor 100 for the shift reaction simultaneously performs inhibition of a methanation reaction and progression of a shift reaction while preventing deterioration of a thinly formed selectively permeable membrane, whereby hydrogen can efficiently be collected.

Abstract: An active-matrix substrate 30 includes multiple function lines 31, a structure for fixing up the arrangement of the function lines, a first conductive layer 43, a second conductive layer 42, multiple transistors 32 and multiple pixel electrodes 33. Each of the function lines 31 includes: a core 36, at least the surface of which has electrical conductivity; an insulating layer 37 that covers the surface of the core; and a semiconductor layer 38 that covers the insulating layer. Some portions of the first and second conductive layers 43 and 42 overlap with the respective semiconductor layers of the function lines but the others not. The transistors 32 are provided so as to have their channel defined as a region 44 in the semiconductor layer by the first and second conductive layers. The pixel electrodes 33 are electrically connected to the first conductive layer 43.

Abstract: Improvement of simplicity and durability of a stretch rod extending device and a bottom mold lifting device, equipped on a stretch blow molding machine, is achieved by applying a combination of a magnetic screw shaft and a magnetic nut member, which is able to convert rotary-linear movement smoothly without contact. The nut member and the screw shaft of the extending device 6 and lifting device 30 comprise a magnetic nut member 65, 116 and a magnetic screw shaft 66, 117, having spiral N magnetic pole and S magnetic pole alternately provided on inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical member and outer peripheral surface of a shaft at a same regular pitch. The magnetic screw shaft is inserted into the plunger 61, 115, having the magnetic nut member equipped inside with keeping required clearance so as to match the magnetic pole to oppose the magnetic nut member at the same poles each other.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas separator fixing structure includes a gas separator having a support and a membrane provided on at least one surface of the support, which membrane contains a first metal capable of separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen-containing gas, a metal flange connected to at least one open end of the gas separator, a bonding layer containing a second metal, provided at the portion at which the gas separator and the metal flange are connected to each other and on the surface of the gas separation membrane side of the portion, a packing provided on the bonding layer, and a ring-shaped metal member capable of fixing the packing by pressing, provided so that at least part thereof is in contact with the bonding layer, wherein the bonding layer is provided by a heat treatment conducted at a temperature lower than the melting point of the second metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an increased reaction area by forming a gas channel, a proton channel and an electron channel very close to each other inside a catalyst layer. This polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes having catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers, in which the catalyst layer of at least one of the electrodes comprises carbon particles supporting a noble metal catalyst, and the carbon particles include at least two kinds of carbon particles adsorbing a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte in mutually different dispersed states.

Abstract: By using a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell comprising a fabric comprising a warp thread and a weft thread which are made of carbon fiber, wherein the distance X between adjacent intersections where the warp and weft threads cross each other and the thickness Y of the fabric satisfy the equation: 1.4?X/Y?3.5, the present invention reduces the surface asperities of the substrate and prevents a micro short-circuit resulting from the piercing of the polymer electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell by the carbon fibers of the fabric so as to improve the characteristics of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An operation method is provided for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in an optimum operating condition by regulating the cell by a function represented by a gas flow rate and the difference between a saturated steam pressure and an actual steam pressure, by regulating an in-plane temperature distribution obtained by a cooling water flow direction and by the regulation of a cooling water inlet temperature and a cooling water flow amount; a gas supply amount; a supplied moisture amount; and a current density.

Abstract: A switching element includes a first electrode 1 and a second electrode 2 provided apart from each other so as to run a discharge current between them, and a third electrode 3 configured to be capable of changing the difference in potential from at least one of the first and second electrodes 1 and 2, and of controlling the magnitude of the discharge current running between the first and second electrodes 1 and 2 by changing this potential difference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell comprising: a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of electrodes sandwiching the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a first separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one of the electrodes; and a second separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, wherein each of the electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer comprising at least a conductive carbon particle carrying an electrode catalyst particle and a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte, the electrode catalyst layer being in contact with the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, and at least one of the electrodes comprises a catalyst for trapping the fuel gas or the oxidant gas which has passed through the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an increased reaction area by forming a gas channel, a proton channel and an electron channel very close to each other inside a catalyst layer. This polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes having catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers, in which the catalyst layer of at least one of the electrodes comprises carbon particles supporting a noble metal catalyst, and the carbon particles include at least two kinds of carbon particles adsorbing a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte in mutually different dispersed states.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided comprising: a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; a cathode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode; characterized in that the anode and the cathode comprise a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer formed on the gas diffusion layer at the side in contact with the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer has catalyst particles and a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte, and at least either of hydrogen ion conductivity and gas permeability of at least either of the anode and the cathode varies in a thickness direction of the anode or the cathode.

Abstract: A plasma process apparatus for performing a plasma process on a target substrate 4 includes a process chamber 5 in which the target substrate 4 is installed, a gas inlet 6 for introducing a gas into the process chamber 5, and a plasma discharge production section 15 provided in the process chamber 5. The plasma discharge production section 15 includes a first electrode 2a and a second electrode 2b that is closer to the target substrate 4 than the first electrode 2a is. Only surfaces of the first electrode 2a and the second electrode 2b which can be seen in the normal line direction of the target substrate 4 function as plasma discharge surfaces. Thus, a high quality film is realized even at a low target substrate temperature, and the film formation is performed with high gas dissociation efficiency.

Abstract: A hydrogen separator comprising a porous substrate having a large number of pores communicating from one surface thereof to other surface, and a hydrogen-separating layer disposed on the one surface of the porous substrate in a state that the hydrogen-separating layer has a penetrated portion formed so as to extend through the pores from the one surface to a particular depth, wherein an average pore diameter at the one surface of the porous substrate is 0.02 to 0.5 ?m, a thickness of the hydrogen-separating layer is 1 to 5 ?m, and a penetration depth of the penetrated portion is 0.05 to 1 ?m, is at least equal to the average pore diameter at the one surface of the porous substrate, and is not larger than the half of the thickness of the hydrogen-separating layer. The hydrogen separator hardly generates defects such as cracks, peeling and the like in the hydrogen-separating layer, is superior in durability, and satisfies both of good hydrogen-separating ability and good hydrogen permeability.

Abstract: A porous supporting carbon body of a gas diffusion layer is provided with a larger number of smaller pores at its catalyst layer side and a smaller number of larger pores at the other side, particularly with an appropriate distribution of finer mesh at its catalyst layer side and coarser mesh at the other side. As a result, a high performance polymer electrolyte fuel cell is obtained in which water generated at the catalyst layer is quickly sucked out to the gas diffusion layer, and is evaporated at the gas diffusion layer to be effectively exhausted to outside the fuel cell, so that excessive water can be prevented from retaining in the gas diffusion electrode, with the polymer electrolyte membrane being maintained at an appropriately wet condition.

Abstract: A hydrogen separator comprising a porous substrate composed mainly of a ceramic having a large number of pores connecting from one surface of the substrate to other surface, and a hydrogen-separating layer made of a hydrogen permselective metal formed on the porous substrate via an intermediate layer made of an electron-conductive ceramic. The hydrogen separator hardly generates defects such as peeling, cracks or the like in the hydrogen-separating layer and is suitable for use even when the hydrogen separator is exposed to a heat cycle, used under high temperature conditions or/and used for long-term.