Abstract: In a membrane electrode assembly of the present invention, at least one of a catalyst layer of an oxygen electrode and a catalyst layer of a fuel electrode includes a supported catalyst supporting a metal catalyst containing a platinum group element, a proton conductive polymer electrolyte, and at least one selected from (a) a complex-forming agent having a ligand that forms coordinate bonds with ions of the platinum group element and forms a complex, the ligand containing oxygen as a coordinating atom, (b) a complex of the platinum group element, a ligand of the complex containing oxygen as a coordinating atom, and (c) carbon that has a BET specific surface area of 100 m2/g or greater, satisfies at least one of (i) an R value of Raman spectrum of 0.5 or less and (ii) a lattice spacing d002 between (002) planes of 0.35 nm or less, and does not support the metal catalyst.

Abstract: A hydrogen producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1 for containing a hydrogen generating material, a water containing vessel 2 for containing water, a water supply portion for supplying water from the water containing vessel 2 to the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, a hydrogen outflow portion for leading out hydrogen from the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, a gas-liquid separating part 7 for separating water from a mixture of hydrogen and water discharged from the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, and a water collecting portion for collecting water separated by the gas-liquid separating part 7 into the water containing vessel 2.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit fuel cells each having a positive electrode (8) for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode (9) for oxidizing liquid fuel, and an electrolyte layer (10) interposed between the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9), and a section (3) for storing liquid fuel (4), wherein power can be generated stably while reducing the size by arranging the plurality of unit fuel cells on the substantially same plane. Each electrolyte layer of the unit fuel cell preferably constitutes a continuous integrated electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating material reacts with water to produce hydrogen and includes at least one metal material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, and their alloys. The metal material includes particles with a particle size of 60 ?m or less in a proportion of 80 wt % or more. The hydrogen generating material can produce hydrogen easily and efficiently at low temperatures. A hydrogen generator can be made portable by using the hydrogen generating material. Moreover, the use of the hydrogen generating material as a hydrogen fuel source can reduce the size of a fuel cell and improve the electrical efficiency.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator of the present invention has a vessel for containing a hydrogen generating material including a metallic material for generating hydrogen by an exothermic reaction with water. The vessel includes a water supply pipe for supplying water into the vessel and a hydrogen outlet for discharging hydrogen generated in the vessel to the outside of the vessel. In the hydrogen generator, a wall surface of the vessel facing the hydrogen outlet is set as a reference plane, a water supply port at the end of the water supply pipe disposed inside the vessel is disposed in the vicinity of the reference plane, the water supply pipe includes a perpendicular portion extending from the vicinity of the center of the reference plane in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane, and a water absorbent is disposed on the periphery of the perpendicular portion of the water supply pipe and not disposed on a portion of 15% or more of an effective length of the perpendicular portion on the hydrogen outlet side.

Abstract: A hydrogen-generating material composition of the present invention contains at least one metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon, zinc, magnesium, and alloys mainly composed of at least one of those metal elements, and a water-soluble salt of hydroxy acid. In the hydrogen-generating material composition, the ratio of the water-soluble salt of hydroxy acid to the total of the metallic material and the water-soluble salt of hydroxy acid is 1 mass % or more. A method for producing hydrogen according to the present invention is provided, wherein hydrogen is generated by supplying water to the hydrogen-generating material composition of the present invention so that a reaction occurs between the metallic material and the water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell power generation system that includes: a fuel cell including a first membrane electrode assembly including a positive electrode for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode for oxidizing hydrogen, and a solid electrolyte membrane disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a fuel channel for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a plurality of the first membrane electrode assemblies, and a hydrogen eliminating apparatus capable of eliminating at least part of the hydrogen that is present in the system is connected to the fuel channel.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating material of the present invention includes at least one metal material selected from aluminum and aluminum alloy. The metal material has a surface film that includes a metal phase containing aluminum in the metallic state and an inactive phase containing an oxide or hydroxide of aluminum. A method for producing the hydrogen generating material of the present invention includes pulverizing aluminum or aluminum alloy in a liquid containing water and an organic solvent. A method for producing hydrogen of the present invention includes producing hydrogen by a reaction between the hydrogen generating material of the present invention and water.

Abstract: In a method for producing a hydrogen generating material including at least one metal powder selected from the group consisting of an aluminum powder and an aluminum alloy powder of the present invention, a metal flake powder is formed by pulverizing aluminum or aluminum alloy mechanically in a treatment solvent containing an organic solvent that is corrosive to aluminum. The hydrogen generating material of the present invention includes, e.g., at least one metal powder selected from the group consisting of an aluminum powder and an aluminum alloy powder. The metal powder is in the form of a flake and includes 60 wt % or more of aluminum in the metallic state. The carbon content of the metal powder measured by a combustion-infrared absorption method is 0.5 wt % or less.

Abstract: A hydrogen producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1 for containing a hydrogen generating material, a water containing vessel 2 for containing water, a water supply portion for supplying water from the water containing vessel 2 to the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, a hydrogen outflow portion for leading out hydrogen from the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, a gas-liquid separating part 7 for separating water from a mixture of hydrogen and water discharged from the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, and a water collecting portion for collecting water separated by the gas-liquid separating part 7 into the water containing vessel 2.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating material of the present invention includes a metal material that reacts with water to generate hydrogen, and a heat generating material that reacts with water to generate heat and is a material other than the metal material. The heat generating material is unevenly distributed with respect to the metal material. The hydrogen generating material has a plurality of regions that differ in content of the heat generating material. The content of the heat generating material is preferably 30 wt % to 80 wt % in a region with the highest content of the heat generating material. A hydrogen generator of the present invention includes the hydrogen generating material and a vessel containing the hydrogen generating material. The vessel can accommodate another inner vessel.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating material of the present invention includes at least one metal material selected from aluminum and aluminum alloy. The metal material has a surface film that includes a metal phase containing aluminum in the metallic state and an inactive phase containing an oxide or hydroxide of aluminum. A method for producing the hydrogen generating material of the present invention includes pulverizing aluminum or aluminum alloy in a liquid containing water and an organic solvent. A method for producing hydrogen of the present invention includes producing hydrogen by a reaction between the hydrogen generating material of the present invention and water.

Abstract: An ion-conductive electrolyte which comprises a compound having in the molecule a structure represented by the following chemical formula and an electrolyte salt; and a cell employing the ion-conductive electrolyte. The ion-conductive electrolyte has a low vapor pressure, has a high ion conductivity even at room temperature, and has a high lithium ion transport number. With this ion-conductive electrolyte, a highly safe cell having excellent discharge characteristics can be provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reactor containing a hydrogen generating material that reacts with water to generate hydrogen, a water containing vessel, a water supply portion for supplying water from the water containing vessel to the reactor, and a hydrogen outflow portion for leading out hydrogen from the reactor. The reactor and the water containing vessel are attachable to and detachable from the hydrogen producing apparatus. A measuring device for measuring at least one of a hydrogen generation rate from the reactor and a temperature of the reactor is provided. Removal of the reactor is restricted according to a measurement value of the measuring device.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating material reacts with water to produce hydrogen and includes at least one metal material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, and their alloys. The metal material includes particles with a particle size of 60 ?m or less in a proportion of 80 wt % or more. The hydrogen generating material can produce hydrogen easily and efficiently at low temperatures. A hydrogen generator can be made portable by using the hydrogen generating material. Moreover, the use of the hydrogen generating material as a hydrogen fuel source can reduce the size of a fuel cell and improve the electrical efficiency.

Abstract: An exemplary information processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a body portion having a control device; and a display portion having a display panel connected to the body portion via a hinge so as to be swingably opened or closed. A power generation portion of a fuel cell, having positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and electrolyte layers placed between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes is provided in a housing of the display portion. The positive electrodes of the power generation portion are disposed on a back side or a display panel side of the display portion. Air holes for supplying air to the positive electrodes are provided on at least one selected from a back side of the housing and a display panel side of the housing. A fuel cartridge for supplying liquid fuel to the power generation portion is incorporated in the body portion. Thus, the information processing apparatus can be decreased in thickness and miniaturized.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell includes a positive electrode (8) for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode (9) for oxidizing fuel, a solid electrolyte (10) placed between the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9), and liquid fuel (4), wherein the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9) respectively include catalyst layers (8b), (9b) with a thickness of 20 ?m or more, at least one of the respective catalyst layers (8b), (9b) has a pore with a pore diameter in a range of 0.3 ?m to 2.0 ?m, and a pore volume of the pore is 4% or more with respect to a total pore volume. Because of this configuration, a liquid fuel cell with a high output density can be provided in which the pore configuration in the catalyst layer is optimized, and catalyst performance is exhibited sufficiently.

Abstract: A material capable of occluding/discharging a lithium ion or a lithium-ion-conducting material is made to adhere to a surface of a particle of a lithium transition metal composite nitride having a particle diameter of 0.01 to 30 ?m by a vapor phase method represented by a thin-film forming method selected from chemical vapor deposition, vapor deposition, ion plating and sputtering, thereby providing a composite electrode material with improved stability in the air as an electrode material capable of constituting an electrochemical element having a large capacity and improved cycle characteristics.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit fuel cells each having a positive electrode (8) for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode (9) for oxidizing liquid fuel, and an electrolyte layer (10) interposed between the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9), and a section (3) for storing liquid fuel (4), wherein power can be generated stably while reducing the size by arranging the plurality of unit fuel cells on the substantially same plane. Each electrolyte layer of the unit fuel cell preferably constitutes a continuous integrated electrolyte layer.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a body portion having a control device; a display portion; and a power generation portion of a fuel cell. The display portion is connected to the body portion so that it can be opened or closed, or the body portion includes a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the display portion. Supply of fuel to a negative electrode of the power generation portion is controlled in connection with an opening/closing operation of the display portion or the lid. With this configuration, the fuel supply can be adjusted depending on the status of use of the display portion so that the fuel can be used efficiently. Accordingly, the apparatus can be operated for a long time. Moreover, since the fuel can be used efficiently, a fuel cartridge may be small, which allows the information processing apparatus to be made thinner and smaller.