Abstract: A seat heater is installed between a seat pad that is a member supporting a load from a seated person sitting on a seat and has a plurality of ventilation holes through which the air generated by a blower flows is formed on a surface on a side of the seated person and a covering that covers a surface of the seat pad and has breathability. The seat heater includes a thin plate-like base material having voids through which air passes, and a heating wire fixed to the base material. A plurality of slits separate from the voids are formed in the base material.

Abstract: The imaging device comprises: an imaging unit, a shooting processor, an exposure information setter, and an image processor. The imaging unit stores electric charges in response to an incident light for each frame, thereby outputting an image signal. The shooting processor controls storage times, during which the imaging unit stores the electric charges. The exposure information setter sets first exposure control information that controls brightness of a first image signal generated based on a first storage time and second exposure control information that controls brightness of a second image signal generated based on a second storage time. The image processor combines the first and the second image signal. In the case where the first exposure control information satisfies a given condition, the exposure information setter sets the first and the second exposure control information such that storage times corresponding to frames adjacent to each other become equal to each other.

Abstract: The imaging device comprises: an imaging unit, a shooting processor, an exposure information setter, and an image processor. The imaging unit stores electric charges in response to an incident light for each frame, thereby outputting an image signal. The shooting processor controls storage times, during which the imaging unit stores the electric charges. The exposure information setter sets first exposure control information that controls brightness of a first image signal generated based on a first storage time and second exposure control information that controls brightness of a second image signal generated based on a second storage time. The image processor combines the first and the second image signal. In the case where the first exposure control information satisfies a given condition, the exposure information setter sets the first and the second exposure control information such that storage times corresponding to frames adjacent to each other become equal to each other.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst is allowed to reduce the amount of used platinum and has high catalytic activity and stability. In one example embodiment, the core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst includes a core particle (with an average particle diameter R1) made of a non-platinum element and a platinum shell layer (with an average thickness ts) satisfying 1.4 nm?R1?3.5 nm and 0.25 nm?ts?0.9 nm. The core particle includes an element satisfying Eout?3.0 eV, where average binding energy relative to the Fermi level of 5d orbital electrons of platinum present on an outermost surface of the shell layer is Eout. In a fuel cell including a platinum-containing catalyst which contains a Ru particle as a core particle, the output density at a current density of 300 mA/cm2 is 70 mW/cm2 or over, and an output retention ratio is approximately 90% or over.

Abstract: A fuel cell capable of being thinned while maintaining a stable electric power supply is provided. A fuel cell includes a power generation section, a fuel tank, a fuel supply section (pump), and a fuel vaporization section. The power generation section has a structure in which a combined body is sandwiched between a cell plate and a cell plate. The combined body has a structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between. In particular, the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided, and are connected by a nozzle section buried therein. A fuel contained in the fuel tank is pumped by the fuel supply section according to the state of the power generation section, and then is vaporized by the fuel vaporization section, and is supplied to the power generation section side.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that prevents destabilization of power generation due to heat generated in an electrochemical device portion. In a fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly which performs power generation by chemical reaction, a membrane-electrode assembly is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or two membrane-electrode assemblies are provided adjacent to each other so that the pair is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or another pair, and one of the main surfaces of a membrane-electrode assembly is in contact with outside air. Conductive plates are disposed in contact with the membrane-electrode assembly in order to exchange a current generated in the membrane-electrode assembly with the outside, and radiation fins are provided on the conductive plate on the main surface side in contact with outside air so that the conductive plate serves as a radiation member.

Abstract: An electrochemical device capable of improving arrangement efficiency of bonded bodies and securing favorable sealing characteristics is provided. An electrolyte membrane 11 has a reaction region 11A sandwiched between a fuel electrode 12 and an oxygen electrode 13 and a peripheral region 11B exposed from between the fuel electrode 12 and the oxygen electrode 13. A connection member 20 has a bent section 23 between two flat sections 21 and 22. Since an adhesive layer 14 is provided in the peripheral section 11B of the electrolyte membrane 11, and the bent section 23 of the connection member 20 is bonded to the adhesive layer 14, arrangement efficiency of a bonded body 10 is improved, and favorable sealing characteristics are secured. The adhesive layer 14 has a structure in which a first contact layer having high adhesion to the electrolyte membrane 11, a barrier layer, a strength retention layer, and a second contact layer having high adhesion to the connection member 20 are sequentially laminated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is fine particles of core-shell structure, each particle being composed of a core particle which is formed from a first material and has the face-centered cubic crystal structure and a shell layer which is formed from a second material differing from the first material on the surface of the core particle and has the face-centered cubic crystal structure, the fine particles containing particles which are multiply twinned fine particles and are surrounded by the {111} crystal plane.

Abstract: A power supply system is provided that includes a fuel cell as its energy source and has not only high energy density but also high power density and can respond to sharp change in the power consumption with simple means. In a power supply system, a fuel cell is connected to the input terminal of a DC/DC converter, and a lithium-ion secondary battery and a load are connected to the output terminal in parallel. A voltage measurement device that measures the terminal voltage of the secondary battery and a control microcomputer that sets the target output voltage of the converter are provided, and the target output voltage is set slightly higher than the terminal voltage. The fuel cell is operated within a power generation condition offering the highest fuel conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A platinum-containing catalyst that is able to optimize state density of platinum 5d vacant orbital and is able to improve catalyst activity and a fuel cell using the same are provided. In the platinum-containing catalyst, when ratio of a peak intensity of a PtLIII absorption edge of a normalized X-ray absorption spectrum of the platinum-containing catalyst with respect to a peak intensity of a PtLIII absorption edge of a normalized X-ray absorption spectrum of a platinum simple substance metal foil having a thickness of 10 ?m is Y, the number of holes of a platinum 5d vacant orbital in the platinum simple substance metal foil is 0.3, the number of holes of a platinum 5d vacant orbital in the platinum-containing catalyst is N, and molar ratio of total of metal elements other than platinum to the platinum in the platinum-containing catalyst is X, Y=0.144X+1.060 is established in the range of 0.1?X?1, and N=0.030X+0.333 is established in the range of 0.1?X?1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is fine particles of core-shell structure, each particle being composed of a core particle which is formed from a first material and has the face-centered cubic crystal structure and a shell layer which is formed from a second material differing from the first material on the surface of the core particle and has the face-centered cubic crystal structure, the fine particles containing particles which are multiply twinned fine particles and are surrounded by the {111} crystal plane.

Abstract: A solid-electrolyte battery and a method therefor are disclosed with which the energy density can be raised and the heavy-load resistance can be improved so as to prevent deposition of lithium. The solid-electrolyte battery incorporates an elongated positive electrode; an elongated negative electrode disposed opposite to the positive electrode; and a solid electrolyte layer provided for the surface of at least either of the positive electrode or the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are laminated such that the surfaces on which the solid electrolyte layers have been formed are disposed opposite to each other and wound in the lengthwise direction of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the solid-electrolyte layer formed on the positive electrode and the solid-electrolyte layer formed on the negative electrode are integrated with each other so as to be formed into a continuous shape.

Abstract: A core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst being allowed to reduce the amount of used platinum and having high catalytic activity and stability and a method of producing the same, an electrode and an electrochemical device are provided. The platinum-containing catalyst includes: metal particles each including a core particle including a metal atom except for platinum or an alloy of a metal atom except for platinum and a shell layer, including platinum on a surface of the core particle, the metal particles being supported by a conductive carrier and satisfying 0.25 nm?ts?0.9 nm and 1.4 nm?R1?3.5 nm, where an average thickness of the shell layer is ts and an average particle diameter of the core particle is R1.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst is allowed to reduce the amount of used platinum and has high catalytic activity and stability. In one example embodiment, the core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst includes a core particle (with an average particle diameter R1) made of a non-platinum element and a platinum shell layer (with an average thickness ts) satisfying 1.4 nm?R1?3.5 nm and 0.25 nm?ts?0.9 nm. The core particle includes an element satisfying Eout?3.0 eV, where average binding energy relative to the Fermi level of 5d orbital electrons of platinum present on an outermost surface of the shell layer is Eout. In a fuel cell including a platinum-containing catalyst which contains a Ru particle as a core particle, the output density at a current density of 300 mA/cm2 is 70 mW/cm2 or over, and an output retention ratio is approximately 90% or over.

Abstract: A fuel cell capable of being thinned while maintaining a stable electric power supply is provided. A fuel cell includes a power generation section, a fuel tank, a fuel supply section (pump), and a fuel vaporization section. The power generation section has a structure in which a combined body is sandwiched between a cell plate and a cell plate. The combined body has a structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between. In particular, the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided, and are connected by a nozzle section buried therein. A fuel contained in the fuel tank is pumped by the fuel supply section according to the state of the power generation section, and then is vaporized by the fuel vaporization section, and is supplied to the power generation section side.

Abstract: A power supply system is provided that includes a fuel cell as its energy source and has not only high energy density but also high power density and can respond to sharp change in the power consumption with simple means. In a power supply system, a fuel cell is connected to the input terminal of a DC/DC converter, and a lithium-ion secondary battery and a load are connected to the output terminal in parallel. A voltage measurement device that measures the terminal voltage of the secondary battery and a control microcomputer that sets the target output voltage of the converter are provided, and the target output voltage is set slightly higher than the terminal voltage. The fuel cell is operated within a power generation condition offering the highest fuel conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte battery incorporating a positive electrode with an elongated positive-electrode collector having two sides on which positive-electrode active material layers are formed, a negative electrode with an elongated negative-electrode collector having two sides on which negative-electrode active material layers are formed, and a solid electrolyte layer formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode such that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are laminated and wound. A ratio A/B of the total film thickness A of the positive-electrode active material layers with respect to the total thickness B of the negative-electrode active material layers satisfies a range from 0.5 to 1.2.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte battery h which includes a wound electrode incorporating a positive electrode with a two-sided elongated positive-electrode collector on which positive-electrode active material layers are formed, a two sided negative electrode with an elongated negative-electrode collector on which negative-electrode active material layers are formed and a solid electrolyte layer formed between the positive and the negative electrodes where, the total film thickness of the positive-electrode active material layers satisfies a range from 60 ?m to 150 ?m, and the ratio A/B of the total film thickness A of the positive electrode active material layers with respect to the total thickness B of the negative-electrode active material layers satisfies a range from 0.5 to 1.2.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided capable of preventing destabilization of power generation due to heat generated in an electrochemical device portion (membrane-electrode assembly or the like) and preventing decrease of generation efficiency. In a fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly which performs power generation by chemical reaction, a membrane-electrode assembly is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or two membrane-electrode assemblies are provided adjacent to each other so that the pair is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or another pair, and one of the main surfaces of a membrane-electrode assembly is in contact with outside air without being sealed with another membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: A small fuel cell capable of improving stability of power generation is provided. A heat insulating layer 40 is provided outside an oxidant-electrode-side package member 22. In a face 40A on an oxidant electrode 12 side of the heat insulating layer 40, temperature is increased by heat generation of the oxidant electrode 12. A face 40B on the opposite side of the face 40A is apart from the oxidant electrode 12 and the heat resistivity of the material is high, and accordingly the temperature thereof is lower than that of the face 40A on the oxidant electrode 12 side, and temperature difference is generated in the thickness direction of the heat insulating layer 40. Water generated in the oxidant electrode 12 is vaporized by heat generation of the oxidant electrode 12 and becomes water vapor. Heat is drawn as vaporization heat and thereby heat generation of a power generator 10 is suppressed. The generated water vapor is condensed by the temperature difference in the heat insulting layer 40.