Abstract: A fuel cell with which in the case where an enzyme is immobilized to at least one of a cathode and an anode, sufficient buffer ability is able to be obtained even at the time of high output operation, ability inherent in the enzyme is able to be sufficiently demonstrated, and which has superior performance is provided. In a bio-fuel cell which has a structure in which a cathode and an anode are opposed to each other with an electrolyte layer containing a buffer substance in between, and in which an enzyme is immobilized to at least one of the cathode and the anode, a compound containing an imidazole ring is contained in the electrolyte layer as a buffer substance, and one or more acids selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid are further added.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell having a structure in which a cathode and an anode face each other with a proton conductor therebetween. In this fuel cell, an oxygen reductase or the like is immobilized on at least the cathode, and the cathode is composed of a material having pores therein such as porous carbon. In this fuel cell, the volume of water contained in the cathode is controlled to be 70% or less of the volume of the pores of the cathode, whereby a high current value can be stably obtained through optimization of the amount of moisture contained in the cathode when an enzyme is immobilized on at least the cathode. Also provided is a method for operating the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided having a structure in which a cathode and an anode face each other with an electrolyte layer therebetween. The cathode includes an electrode on which an oxygen reductase and the like are immobilized, and the electrode has pores therein, water repellency is imparted to at least part of the surface of the electrode. Water repellency is imparted by forming a water-repellent agent on the surface of the electrode. The water-repellent agent includes a water-repellent material such as carbon powder and an organic solvent such as methyl isobutyl ketone that causes phase separation with water. When the electrode has pores therein, there are provided a fuel cell that stably provides a high current value and a method for manufacturing the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel reformer which enables power generation to be actually performed even in the case of using very-safe familiar things such as food and drink and food scraps as a fuel of a biofuel cell. The fuel reformer is used for a fuel cell which generates power as an oxidation reduction reaction progresses using enzyme as a catalyst, and has: a primary fuel introduction unit for introducing a primary fuel; a fuel reforming unit communicating with the primary fuel introduction unit and reforming the primary fuel to a secondary fuel from which electrons can be emitted by an oxidation reduction reaction using enzyme as a catalyst; and a secondary fuel supplying unit communicating with the fuel reforming unit and supplying the secondary fuel to the fuel cell.

Abstract: Provided is an enzyme electrode in which oxidation-reduction reactions proceed with an enzyme acting as a catalyst, and the enzyme is modified to increase affinity and/or reaction rate with a reaction substrate or an electron transfer mediator by adding or inserting at least one codon encoding a particular amino acid residue to or into a base sequence encoding the enzyme, and is immobilized. Since the oxidation-reduction reactions on the electrode proceed highly efficiently, the enzyme electrode can cause to increase the obtained output of electric energy and thus can be suitably used in all types of fuel cells, biosensors, and electronic apparatuses.

Abstract: A fuel cell having excellent properties is provided in which, when an enzyme is immobilized in at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a sufficient buffering capability can be provided even in a high power output operation and the inherent capability of the enzyme can be sufficiently exerted. In a biofuel cell including a structure in which a positive electrode 2 and a negative electrode 1 face each other with an electrolyte layer 3 therebetween, the electrolyte layer 3 containing a buffer material, and the biofuel cell including an enzyme immobilized in at least one of the positive electrode 2 and the negative electrode 1, the electrolyte layer 3 contains a compound including an imidazole ring as a buffer material and at least one acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid is further added to the electrolyte layer 3.

Abstract: A fuel cell and an electronic device equipped therewith are disclosed. The fuel cell is of the type having a cathode and an anode facing each other with a proton conductor interposed therebetween, with at least either of the cathode or anode having an enzyme as a catalyst immobilized thereon, wherein at least a first cathode, a first proton conductor, an anode, a second proton conductor, and a second cathode are sequentially placed thereon, and in fuel is held in contact with at least part of the anode.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell that can perform efficient power generation through a simple fuel supply. There is provided a fuel cell that generates electricity through progress of an oxidation-reduction reaction using an enzyme as a catalyst, the fuel cell including at least a fuel-vaporizing layer formed through vaporization of a fuel; an anode to which a vaporized fuel is supplied from the fuel-vaporizing layer; and a cathode connected to the anode in a state in which protons can be conducted. In the fuel cell, since a fuel is supplied to an electrode in a vaporized state, a vaporized fuel is supplied to an inner portion of the electrode and a reaction sufficiently proceeds at the inner surface of the electrode, which can achieve high output due to efficient power generation.

Abstract: In the case in which a fuel cell has a structure in which a cathode (2) and an anode (1) are opposed with the intermediary of an electrolyte layer (3) and the cathode (2) is formed of an electrode to which an oxygen reductase and so on is immobilized and this electrode has pores inside, at least part of the surface of this electrode is rendered water repellent. For example, the surface of the electrode is rendered water repellent by forming a water-repellent agent on the surface of this electrode. Thereby, in the case in which the cathode is formed of an electrode to which an enzyme is immobilized and this electrode has pores inside, a fuel cell that can stably achieve a high current value by optimization of the amount of water contained in the cathode and a manufacturing method thereof are provided.

Abstract: An enzyme-immobilized electrode is provided and includes an electrode composed of porous carbon or the like, a phospholipid layer on the electrode (11), and enzymes immobilized onto the phospholipid layer. The enzymes are, for example, diaphorase and glucose dehydrogenase. An intermediate layer composed of a protein or the like may be provided between the electrode and the phospholipid layer. By using the enzyme-immobilized electrode as a negative electrode or a positive electrode in a fuel cell using an enzyme, one or a plurality of types of enzymes can be immobilized at optimal positions on the electrode, and thus, there are provided a highly efficient enzyme-immobilized electrode and a highly efficient fuel cell using the enzyme-immobilized electrode.

Abstract: A porous electroconductive material is provided. The electroconductive material enables efficient enzymatic metabolic reactions on electrodes and yields electrodes having immobilized enzymes thereon which remain stable in any working environment. The porous electroconductive material, which has a three-dimensional network structure, is formed from a skeleton of porous material and a carbonaceous material covering the surface of the skeleton. The porous material constituting the skeleton is foamed metal or alloy. This porous electroconductive material is made into an electrode, and enzymes are immobilized on this electrode. The resulting electrode with immobilized enzymes thereon is used as the anode of a bio-fuel cell.

Abstract: A biofuel cell has a structure in which a cathode and an anode are opposed to each other with a electrolyte layer provided therebetween, at least one of the cathode and the anode including an electrode on which at least one enzyme and at least one electron mediator are immobilized. The concentration of the electron mediator immobilized on the electrode is at least 10 times a Michaelis constant Km of the electron mediator for the enzyme, which is determined by measurement in a solution.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are opposed to each other with a proton conductor provided therebetween, and an enzyme immobilized as a catalyst on at least one of the positive and negative electrodes. In the fuel cell, the positive electrode, the proton conductor, and the negative electrode are accommodated in a space formed between a positive electrode current collector having a structure permeable to an oxidizer and a negative electrode current collector having a structure permeable to fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an enzyme including an oxidase that oxidizes a monosaccharide, the enzyme being immobilized on the negative electrode, an electron mediator including a compound having a naphthoquinone skeleton, the electron mediator being immobilized on the negative electrode, a coenzyme that is formed by oxidation of the monosaccharide, and a coenzyme oxidase that oxidizes the coenzyme, in which the ratio of the electron mediator to the coenzyme is in the range of 1.0 (mol):0.33 (mol) to 1.0 (mol):1.0 (mol).

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell and a method of using the same, which enable such a reaction environment as to exhibit excellent properties as electrode sufficiently, and to provide a cathode for the fuel cell, a device using an electrode reaction, and an electrode for the device using an electrode reaction. A fuel cell 10 includes an electrolyte solution 7 arranged between a cathode 1 and an anode 5. The cathode 1 includes a porous material made typically of carbon and an immobilized thereon. The fuel cell is so configured as to bring at least part of the cathode 1 into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase. The cathode 1 preferably further includes an immobilized electron-transfer mediator in addition to the enzyme. The reactant in a gaseous phase can be, for example, air or oxygen.

Abstract: A fuel cell and an electronic device equipped therewith are disclosed. The fuel cell is of the type having a cathode and an anode facing each other with a proton conductor interposed therebetween, with at least either of the cathode or anode having an enzyme as a catalyst immobilized thereon, wherein at least a first cathode, a first proton conductor, an anode, a second proton conductor, and a second cathode are sequentially placed thereon, and in fuel is held in contact with at least part of the anode.

Abstract: A porous electroconductive material is provided. The electroconductive material enables efficient enzymatic metabolic reactions on electrodes and yields electrodes having immobilized enzymes thereon which remain stable in any working environment. The porous electroconductive material, which has a three-dimensional network structure, is formed from a skeleton of porous material and a carbonaceous material covering the surface of the skeleton. The porous material constituting the skeleton is foamed metal or alloy. This porous electroconductive material is made into an electrode, and enzymes are immobilized on this electrode. The resulting electrode with immobilized enzymes thereon is used as the anode of a bio-fuel cell.

Abstract: A curved wiper blade system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to remove ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in the printing mechanism, here, ill as an inkjet printer. A pair of wiper blades each curve inwardly toward each other, and maintain this curvature during bi-directional wiping strokes. This configuration allows one wiper blade to receive an ink solvent from an applicator and apply the solvent to the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead when moving in one wiping direction. When wiping in the opposite direction, one wiper blade also removes ink residue from an interconnect portion of the printhead, as well as from the ink-ejecting orifice plate portion of the printhead.

Abstract: A curved wiper blade system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to remove ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in the printing mechanism, here, illustrated as an inkjet printer. A pair of wiper blades each curve inwardly toward each other, and maintain this curvature during bi-directional wiping strokes. This configuration allows one wiper blade to receive an ink solvent from an applicator and apply the solvent to the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead when moving in one wiping direction. When wiping in the opposite direction, one wiper blade also removes ink residue from an interconnect portion of the printhead, as well as from the ink-ejecting orifice plate portion of the printhead.

Abstract: A curved wiper blade system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to remove ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in the printing mechanism, here, illustrated as an inkjet printer. A pair of wiper blades each curve inwardly toward each other, and maintain this curvature during bi-directional wiping strokes. This configuration allows one wiper blade to receive an ink solvent from an applicator and apply the solvent to the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead when moving in one wiping direction. When wiping in the opposite direction, one wiper blade also removes ink residue from an interconnect portion of the printhead, as well as from the ink-ejecting orifice plate portion of the printhead.