Abstract: A membrane electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of offering excellent power generation performance both in high humidity conditions and low humidity conditions. The membrane electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 having proton conductivity, a cathode electrode catalyst layer 3, an anode electrode catalyst layer 4 and gas diffusion layers 5, 6. The gas diffusion layers 5, 6 have through holes with a mean diameter of 15 to 45 ?m and a specific surface area of 0.25 to 0.5 m2/g, and have a bulk density of 0.35 to 0.55 g/cm3. An intermediate layer 7 is provided between the cathode electrode catalyst layer 3 and the gas diffusion layer 5, and the intermediate layer 7 has through holes with a diameter of 0.01 to 10 ?m and a volume of 3.8 to 7.0 ?l/cm2. The intermediate layer 7 is made of a water-repellent resin containing conductive particles.

Abstract: Membrane-electrode assemblies are provided which have polymer electrolyte membranes capable of maintaining an adequately wet condition even at high temperatures and have superior generating properties. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an ion exchange resin membrane, an anode catalyst layer including catalyst-supported carbon and an ion exchange resin, and a cathode catalyst layer including catalyst-supported carbon and an ion exchange resin, the anode catalyst layer including a binder component of which the ion exchange capacity is higher than that of a binder component in the cathode catalyst layer, and/or the anode catalyst layer including an ion exchange resin layer of which the water content is higher than that of anion exchange resin layer of the cathode catalyst layer.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell electrode catalyst layer comprises Pt particles carried on a carbon carrier and a solid polymer electrolyte, wherein a center-to-center distance dimension (Lpt?pt) between the Pt particles carried on the carbon carrier is made to substantially coincide with the sum of a double of a total dimension resulting by adding the length (Lpes) of a side chain having an ion-exchange group to the diameter (Dpem) of a main chain of the solid polymer electrolyte and the diameter (Dpt) of the Pt particle.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a process for producing an electrolyte membrane-bonded electrode having excellent power generation property when constitutes an electrode assembly, and a varnish composition for an electrolyte, by the use of which an electrolyte membrane-electrode bonded structure capable of retaining excellent power generation property is obtained. A process for producing a first electrolyte membrane-bonded electrode comprises applying, onto an electrode, a water-containing dispersion containing a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer, an organic solvent A and water and having a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer content of 0.5 to 20% by weight and then applying, onto the resulting film, a solution of sulfonated polyarylene in an organic solvent B, to form an electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly having excellent electric power generating capability is produced from a base coated with first polymer electrolytic solution to form an undried first polymer electrolytic membrane. Undried first polymer electrolytic membrane is coated with first electrode dispersion of second polymer electrolytic solution and catalyst carried on a catalyst carrier and dissolved therein. First electrode dispersion is dried to form a first electrode positive-electrode membrane electrode assembly. Another base, coated with third polymer electrolytic solution, forms undried second polymer electrolytic membrane. Undried second polymer electrolytic membrane is coated with a second electrode dispersion of fourth polymer electrolytic solution and a catalyst carried on a catalyst carrier and dissolved therein. Second electrode dispersion is dried forming a second electrode negative-electrode membrane electrode assembly.

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 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: In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a cathode diffusion layer, a cathode electrode catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode catalyst layer, and an anode diffusion layer are laminated in this order, electron conductivity of the cathode electrode catalyst layer at a portion on the side of the cathode diffusion layer is higher than at a portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane and electron conductivity of the cathode electrode catalyst layer at the portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is lower than at the portion on the side of the cathode diffusion layer, and furthermore, electron conductivity of the anode electrode catalyst layer at a portion on the side of the anode diffusion layer is higher than at a portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane and electron conductivity of the anode electrode catalyst layer at the portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is lower than at the portion on the side of the anode diffusio

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has superior power generation characteristics under low humidity conditions and superior starting characteristics under low temperature conditions. In the membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is disposed between a pair of electrodes containing a catalyst, the polymer electrolyte membrane has a polymer segment A having an ion conductive component and a polymer segment B not having an ion conductive component. Furthermore, in the case in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is immersed in water at 90° C. for 30 minutes, absorbed water which exhibits a thawing temperature of from ?30 to 0° C. is in a range from 0.01 to 3.0 g per 1 g of the polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides a proton conductive membrane which, even when reduced in thickness, does not allow penetration of an electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes and which permits sufficient generating performance. A proton conductive composition capable of forming the membrane is also provided. The proton conductive composition includes a nonconductive filler and a polyarylene having a sulfonic group. The proton conductive membrane, comprising the composition, contains the nonconductive filler in an amount of 3 to 50% by volume, and the nonconductive filler particles have diameters ranging from 3 to 90% the thickness of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proton conductive membrane having capabilities of self-generating water and maintaining water, excellent ion conductivity and excellent effect of inhibiting crossover and usable for solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cells and also provides a proton conductive composition used for preparing the proton conductive membrane. The proton conductive composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a polyarylene having a sulfonic group and 0.01 to 80 parts by weight of at least one metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, palladium, rhodium, iridium and ruthenium, or comprises 100 parts by weight of a polyarylene having a sulfonic group, 0.01 to 80 parts by weight of the metal catalyst, and 0.01 to 50 parts by weight of metal oxide fine particles and/or fibers in total.

Abstract: A proton conductive membrane exhibiting superior proton conductivity even at high temperatures of 100° C. or above, and a proton conductive composition capable of forming the membrane are provided. The invention also provides a proton conductive membrane showing excellent proton conductivity even if it does not have an increased amount of the sulfonic groups introduced therein, and a proton conductive composition capable of forming the membrane. The proton conductive composition includes (a) at least one compound selected from a metal oxide hydrate, a phyllosilicate and a hygroscopic inorganic porous compound, and (b) a polyarylene having a sulfonic group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane-electrode structure for a solid polymer fuel cell comprising a pair of electrode catalyst layers and a polyeletrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrode catalyst layers, wherein the electrode catalyst layers contain polyarylene having a sulfonic acid group, said polyarylene comprising a recurring unit represented by the following formula (A) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (B); wherein Y is a direct bonding or a group selected from a divalent electron withdrawing group and a divalent electron donating group, Ar is a mononuclear or polynuclear aromatic group, m is an integer of 0 to 10, k is an integer of 0 to 5, l is an integer of 0 to 4, and k+1?1; wherein R1 to R8 are each a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, an alkyl group, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group, an aryl group or an allyl group, W is a divalent electron withdrawing group or a direct bonding, T is a direct bonding, a divalent electron withdrawing group, a divalent electron donating

Abstract: A process of producing an electrode paste having excellent storage stability and capable of forming a catalyst layer that has a sufficient pore volume for high generating performance, and an electrode paste composition having such properties are disclosed. The process comprises mixing and agitating carbon black supporting a catalyst metal, a polymer electrolyte, an organic solvent and at least either carbon fiber or water thereby to finely disperse the carbon black to a predetermined mean particle diameter of particles dispersed in the mixed solution, and admixing a dispersant to the mixed solution and agitating the resultant mixture to obtain an electrode paste in which particles having a predetermined mean particle diameter are uniformly dispersed.

Abstract: Anodes are provided on a porous resin film, a polymer electrolyte membrane is provided on the anodes, and cathodes are provided on the polymer electrolyte membrane to form a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies as power generation units.

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: A solid polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell electrode catalyst layer comprises Pt particles carried on a carbon carrier and a solid polymer electrolyte, wherein a center-to-center distance dimension (Lpt−pt) between the Pt particles carried on the carbon carrier is made to substantially coincide with the sum of a double of a total dimension resulting by adding the length (Lpes) of a side chain having an ion-exchange group to the diameter (Dpem) of a main chain of the solid polymer electrolyte and the diameter (Dpt) of the Pt particle.

Abstract: The ejector includes a diffuser, a nozzle, a needle, and a drive section. A throat portion and an increasing diameter portion are formed in a third conduit of the diffuser, and the nozzle and the needle are arranged coaxially with the third conduit. A first taper section of the needle is inserted into an aperture portion of the nozzle, and a second taper section is housed in the increasing diameter portion. A gap between the aperture portion and the first taper section constitutes a first fluid conduit, and a gap between the increasing diameter portion and the second taper section constitutes a second fluid conduit. The needle is provided so as to be shiftable in its axial direction by the drive section, and, by shifting the needle in its axial direction, it is possible to change both the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide A process for producing an electrolyte membrane-bonded electrode having excellent power generation properties property when constitutes in an electrode assembly, and a varnish composition for an electrolyte, by the use of which to obtain an electrolyte membrane-electrode bonded structure capable of retaining excellent power generation properties. is obtaned. A process for producing a first electrolyte membrane bonded electrode comprises applying, onto an electrode, a water containing dispersion containing a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer, an organic solvent A and water and having a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer content of 0.

Abstract: The method for the production of multilayers comprises: applying a coating solution (I) which comprises a dissolved or dispersed proton-conductive polymer and a solvent (Is) containing water in amounts from 25 to 60 wt % and an organic solvent in amounts from 75 down to 40 wt %, on an electrode, applying a coating solution (II) which comprises a dissolved or dispersed proton-conductive polymer and a solvent (IIs) containing water in amounts from 0 to less than 25 wt % and an organic solvent in amounts above 75 wt %, on the wet first coating without any drying of the first coating; and drying the coatings to form an electrolyte membrane. The methods can provide multilayers capable of satisfactory power generation properties as an electrode structure by forming an electrolyte membrane on an electrode without causing any penetration of electrolyte into the electrode.