Abstract: Disclosed is a porous electrode comprising a porous film (A) with through pores and an electrically conducting material selected from the group consisting of conductor and semiconductor, the porous film (A) having an average pore size d1 of from 0.02 to 3 ?m and a porosity of from 40 to 90%, the electrically conducting material being filled in the through pores of the porous film (A). A dye-sensitized solar cell and an electric double layer capacitor including the porous electrode as a constituent are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a porous electrode comprising a porous film (A) with through pores and an electrically conducting material selected from the group consisting of conductor and semiconductor, the porous film (A) having an average pore size d1 of from 0.02 to 3 ?m and a porosity of from 40 to 90%, the electrically conducting material being filled in the through pores of the porous film (A). A dye-sensitized solar cell and an electric double layer capacitor including the porous electrode as a constituent are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing a polymer electrolyte emulsion having the following steps (1) and (2) is provided. Step (1): a step of dissolving a polymer electrolyte in a solvent comprising a good solvent for the polymer electrolyte to prepare a polymer electrolyte solution having a polymer electrolyte concentration of 0.1 to 10% by weight. Step (2): a step of mixing the polymer electrolyte solution 10 obtained in the step (1), and a poor solvent for the polymer electrolyte at a ratio of 4 to 99 parts by weight of the poor solvent based on 1 part by weight of the polymer electrolyte solution. In addition, a process for producing a polymer 15 electrolyte emulsion comprising separating a polymer electrolyte dispersion in which a polymer electrolyte particle is dispersed in a dispersing medium, with a membrane is provided.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a catalyst ink which allows formation of catalyst layers that can adequately improve durability of fuel cells. The catalyst ink of the invention is a catalyst ink for formation of a fuel cell catalyst layer, comprising a catalyst substance, a solvent and an aromatic polymer compound having a phosphorus atom-containing functional group, wherein at least the aromatic polymer compound is dispersed, and not dissolved, in the solvent.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) comprising an anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer placed opposite each other, and a polymer electrolyte membrane formed between the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer, as well as a fuel cell comprising the same. Either or both the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer comprise: a catalyst-supported material, having at least one catalyst substance selected from among platinum and platinum-containing alloys and a support on which the catalyst substance is supported; and a hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte. The catalyst-supporting ratio of the catalyst-supported material is 60 wt % or greater.

Abstract: A method for producing a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer-gasket assembly 30, having a cathode sealing step in which a cathode side gasket 6 is formed on the edges of a cathode side gas diffusion layer 4 and cathode catalyst layer 2, and an anode sealing step in which an anode side gasket 7 is formed on the edges of an anode side gas diffusion layer 5 and anode catalyst layer 3, in a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly 20, wherein the thickness C1 of the cathode side gasket 6 used in the cathode sealing step is in the following relationship with A1 as the thickness of the cathode catalyst layer 2 and B1 as the thickness of the cathode side gas diffusion layer 4. (A1+B1)/C1?1.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly 1 having an anode catalyst layer 20 and cathode catalyst layer 30 that are mutually opposing and a polymer electrolyte membrane 10 formed between the anode catalyst layer 20 and cathode catalyst layer 30, wherein the anode catalyst layer 20 is composed of a plurality of ion-exchange layers 20a and 20b with different layer ion-exchange capacities, and of the plurality of ion-exchange layers 20a and 20b, ion-exchange layer A (20a) having the smallest layer ion-exchange capacity is situated more toward the polymer electrolyte membrane 10 side than ion-exchange layer B (20b) having the largest layer ion-exchange capacity, and the ratio of the layer ion-exchange capacity of the ion-exchange layer B (20b) with respect to the layer ion-exchange capacity of the ion-exchange layer A (20a) is 1.7 or greater.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly comprising an anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer placed each other, and a polymer electrolyte membrane formed between the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer. The polymer electrolyte membrane comprises: a hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte, and the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer both comprise a catalyst-supported material, having at least one catalyst substance selected from among platinum and platinum-containing alloys and a support on which the catalyst substance is supported; and a polymer electrolyte. Either or both the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer have a catalyst-supporting ratio of 60 wt % or greater in the catalyst-supported material.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for a solid polymer fuel cell, which comprises a mutually opposing anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer with a polymer electrolyte membrane formed between the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer, wherein the anode catalyst layer and cathode catalyst layer each contain a catalyst and a hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte with an ion-exchange group. If the ion-exchange group density of the anode catalyst layer is represented as ? [?eq/cm2] and the ion-exchange group density of the cathode catalyst layer is represented as ? [?eq/cm2], then ? and ? satisfy the following relational expressions (1), (2) and (3). ?/?>1.0??(1) ?<0.45??(2) ?<0.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly 1 having an anode catalyst layer 20 and a cathode catalyst layer 30 which are mutually opposing and a polymer electrolyte membrane 10 formed between the anode catalyst layer 20 and cathode catalyst layer 30, wherein the anode catalyst layer 20 has a plurality of polymer layers 20a, 20b containing a polymer in which a repeating unit (a) with an ion-exchange group and a repeating unit (b) with no ion-exchange group are arranged in a random or block fashion, and the polymer in the polymer layer 20a in closest proximity to the polymer electrolyte membrane 10 is the polymer with the lowest block character of the repeating units (a) and (b).

Abstract: There is provided a membrane-electrode assembly including catalyst layers disposed on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane, wherein water transfer resistance of said electrolyte membrane, calculated by the following formula (F1), is 10 ?m·g/meq or less and a platinum amount contained in at least one of the catalyst layers is 0.02 to 0.20 mg/cm2.

Abstract: Provided is a porous film formed from a polyolefin-based resin containing an ethylene-?-olefin copolymer including a structural unit derived from ethylene and a structural unit derived from one or more kinds of monomers selected from ?-olefins having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein a shutdown temperature is 125° C. or lower.

Abstract: Provided is a laminated porous film formed by laminating a heat-resistant resin layer on a porous film made from a polyolefin-based resin containing an ethylene-?-olefin copolymer including a structural unit derived from ethylene and a structural unit derived from one or more kinds of monomers selected from ?-olefins having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein a shutdown temperature is 125° C. or lower and a thermal film breakage temperature is 155° C. or higher.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell that irrespectively of the front or backside of polymeric electrolyte membrane, exhibits high output performance, and that exhibits high junction at an interface between polymeric electrolyte membrane and electrode even under low humidification condition or high temperature condition, or in high current density region, realizing appropriate water management and excellent output characteristics. Further, there is provided a fuel cell including the above assembly.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a laminate wherein an ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane is laminated on a supporting substrate in a state where any one surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane is bonded to the supporting substrate, a difference in a contact angle against water between one surface and the other surface of the ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane being 30° or less, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a polymer electrolyte solution in which a polymer electrolyte containing an ion conductive polymer having an aromatic group in the main chain and/or the side chain, and also having an ion exchange group bonded directly to the aromatic group or bonded indirectly to the aromatic group via the other atom or atomic group is dissolved in a solvent; and applying the polymer electrolyte solution on the supporting substrate by flow casting thereby laminating the polymer electrolyte membrane on the supporting substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing a polymer electrolyte emulsion having the following steps (1) and (2) is provided. Step (1): a step of dissolving a polymer electrolyte in a solvent comprising a good solvent for the polymer electrolyte to prepare a polymer electrolyte solution having a polymer electrolyte concentration of 0.1 to 10% by weight. Step (2): a step of mixing the polymer electrolyte solution obtained in the step (1), and a poor solvent for the polymer electrolyte at a ratio of 4 to 99 parts by weight of the poor solvent based on 1 part by weight of the polymer electrolyte solution. In addition, a process for producing a polymer electrolyte emulsion comprising separating a polymer electrolyte dispersion in which a polymer electrolyte particle is dispersed in a dispersing medium, with a membrane is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer electrolyte emulsion, wherein a polymer electrolyte particle is dispersed in a dispersing medium, a zeta potential at the measurement temperature of 25° C. being in a range of ?50 mV to ?300 mV. Also, provided is a polymer electrolyte emulsion, wherein a polymer electrolyte particle is dispersed in a dispersing medium, an ion exchange capacity of a solid material obtained by removing a volatile substance from the polymer electrolyte emulsion being 1.5 to 3.0 meq/g.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte emulsion wherein a polymer electrolyte particle is dispersed in a dispersing medium, wherein a polymer electrolyte contained in the polymer electrolyte particle is a block copolymer consisting of a segment having an acidic group and a segment without substantially ion exchange group, is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase retardation film including two outer layers facing each other, and an inner layer interposed between the outer layers, each of the outer layers are formed of a non-styrene polymeric material and the inner layer being formed of a polymeric material with a negative intrinsic birefringence, wherein the phase retardation film has a negative intrinsic birefringence and a Haze from 0% to 1%. A liquid crystal display device including the phase retardation film is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a laminated porous polyolefin film, the method comprising steps of: providing a pair of tools for thermocompression bonding two resin films therebetween, laminating two films each comprising at least one layer made of a polyolefin resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin having a melt index of 0.1 g/10 min or less and 80 to 300 parts by weight of a filler to form a laminated film by piling and thermocompression bonding the films between the thermocompressing portions of the tools, wherein the surface temperature of each thermocompressing portion is adjusted to a temperature higher than the melting point of the polyolefin resin by from 5 to 25° C. during the lamination, and drawing the laminated film to form micropores therein, thereby yielding a porous film.