Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode, an air electrode containing a perovskite type oxide as a main component, the perovskite type oxide being represented by a general formula ABO3 and containing La and Sr at the A site, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. The air electrode includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located on the most upstream side in a flow direction of an oxidant gas that flows through a surface of the air electrode, the second portion being located on the most downstream side in the flow direction. A first ratio of an La concentration to an Sr concentration detected at the first portion through Auger electron spectroscopy is at least 1.1 times a second ratio of an La concentration to an Sr concentration detected at the second portion through Auger electron spectroscopy.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode, an air electrode containing a perovskite type oxide as a main component, the perovskite type oxide being represented by a general formula ABO3 and containing La and Sr at the A site, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. The air electrode includes a center portion and an outer peripheral portion, the center portion being located at a center of the air electrode in a plane direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the air electrode, the outer peripheral portion surrounding the center portion in the plane direction. A first ratio of an La concentration to an Sr concentration detected at the outer peripheral portion through Auger electron spectroscopy is at least 1.1 times a second ratio of an La concentration to an Sr concentration detected at the center portion through Auger electron spectroscopy.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (100) includes a first supporting substrate (5a), a first power generation element, a second power generation element, a second supporting substrate (5b) and a communicating member (3). The first supporting substrate (5a) includes a first substrate main portion, a first dense layer, and a first gas flow passage. The first dense layer covers the first substrate main portion. The second supporting substrate (5b) includes a second substrate main portion, a second dense layer, and a second gas flow passage. The second dense layer covers the second substrate main portion. The communicating member (3) extends between a distal end portion (502a) of the first supporting substrate (5a) and a distal end portion (502b) of the second supporting substrate (5b) and communicates between the first gas flow passage and the second gas flow passage.

Abstract: A power supply protection circuit is a circuit that controls a protection switch provided on a power supply line connecting a direct current power supply and a load circuit. The power supply protection circuit includes: circuitry connected to the protection switch; and a controller that switches an operation state of the circuitry between a first state and a second state. The first state is an operation state in which driving of the protection switch is enabled when the protection switch is a first semiconductor switch having a control terminal connected to a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type. The second state is an operation state in which driving of the protection switch is enabled when the protection switch is a second semiconductor switch having a control terminal connected to a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type that is different from the semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type.

Abstract: A cell stack device includes a manifold, a fuel cell, and an oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion. The manifold includes a fuel gas supply chamber and a fuel gas collection chamber. The fuel cell extends upward from the manifold. The oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion is disposed upward of the center of the fuel cell. The oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion ejects oxygen-containing gas toward the fuel cell. A support substrate of the fuel cell includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. The first gas channel is connected to a fuel gas supply chamber, and the second gas channel is connected to the fuel gas collection chamber. The first gas channel and the second gas channel are connected to each other in an upper end portion of the fuel cell.

Abstract: This fuel includes: a first switching element disposed between a booster circuit boosting a battery power and one end of a solenoid; a second switching element disposed between a battery and one end of the solenoid; a third switching element disposed between the other end of the solenoid and a ground; a fourth switching element disposed between one end of the solenoid and a ground; and a control unit configured to control open/closed states of the first switching element, the second switching element, the third switching element, and the fourth switching element. The control unit is configured to open the fourth switching element during a valve closing detection period of detecting closing of a fuel injection valve and to detect the closing of the fuel injection valve on the basis of a change in voltage of the other end of the solenoid.

Abstract: A fuel cell cathode contains a perovskite oxide as a main component. The perovskite oxide is expressed by the general formula ABO3 and including La and Sr at the A site. A solid electrolyte layer is disposed between an anode and the cathode. The cathode has a surface on an opposite side to the solid electrolyte layer. A first ratio of a Sr concentration relative to an La concentration is less than or equal to 4 times a second ratio of the Sr concentration relative to the La concentration. The first ratio is detected by the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on the surface of the cathode. The second ratio of a Sr concentration relative to a La concentration is detected by the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on an exposed surface exposed by surface processing of the surface and positioned within 5 nm of the surface in relation to a direction of thickness.

Abstract: A solenoid valve drive control circuit includes: a timing generator circuit that outputs a timing signal for controlling a driver circuit, in accordance with a solenoid valve opening and closing instruction signal; and a valve closing detector circuit that detects a valve closing timing after the timing generator circuit outputs the timing signal for instructing a solenoid valve to close, by monitoring a solenoid valve outflow terminal voltage in the solenoid valve as a signal voltage. The valve closing detector circuit includes a measurement circuit that (i) detects each timing signal reaching a threshold voltage sequentially outputted from a threshold voltage selector circuit, and (ii) outputs a signal indicating the valve closing timing when a change in a measurement value that is obtained through measurement of a time interval of each timing satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A cell stack device includes a plurality of electrochemical cells, a manifold, a gas supply portion, and a gas collection portion. The manifold includes a gas supply chamber and a gas collection chamber that extend in a direction in which the electrochemical cells are arranged. A support substrate of an electrochemical cell includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. The first gas channel is connected to the gas supply chamber, and the second gas channel is connected to the gas collection chamber.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a porous support substrate and a power generation element portion. The support substrate includes at least one first gas channel and at least one second gas channel. The first gas channel extends from a first end portion toward a second end portion, and is connected to a gas supply chamber. The second gas channel is connected to the first gas channel on the second end portion side. The second gas channel extends from the second end portion toward the first endportion, and is connected to a gas collection chamber. A ratio (p0/L) of a pitch p0 of a first gas channel and a second gas channel that are adjacent to each other to a distance L between the power generation element portion and a first end surface of the support substrate located on the first end portion side is 3.3 or less.

Abstract: A cell stack device includes a manifold, a fuel cell, and an oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion. The manifold includes a fuel gas supply chamber and a fuel gas collection chamber. The fuel cell extends upward from the manifold. The oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion is disposed upward of the center of the fuel cell. The oxygen-containing-gas ejection portion ejects oxygen-containing gas toward the fuel cell. A support substrate of the fuel cell includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. The first gas channel is connected to a fuel gas supply chamber, and the second gas channel is connected to the fuel gas collection chamber. The first gas channel and the second gas channel are connected to each other in an upper end portion of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a porous support substrate and a power generation element portion. The support substrate includes a first end portion that is linked to a gas supply chamber and a gas collection portion, and a second end portion that is located opposite to the first end portion. The support substrate includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. The first gas channel extends from the first end portion toward the second end portion. The first gas channel is connected to the gas supply chamber. The second gas channel is connected to the first gas channel on the second end portion side. The second gas channel extends from the second end portion toward the first end portion. The second gas channel is connected to the gas collection chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell has an anode, a cathode and a solid electrolyte layer. The cathode contains a perovskite oxide as a main component. The perovskite oxide is expressed by a general formula ABO3 and includes at least Sr at the A site. The solid electrolyte layer is disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a surface region which is within 5 ?m from a surface opposite the solid electrolyte layer. The surface region contains a main phase containing the perovskite oxide and a secondary phase containing strontium sulfate. An occupied surface area ratio of the secondary phase in a cross section of the surface region is greater than or equal to 0.25% to less than or equal to 8.5%.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell according to the present invention has an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a solid electrolyte layer-side region within 3 ?m from a surface on the solid electrolyte layer side. The solid electrolyte layer-side region has a main phase that is configured by a perovskite oxide, and a second phase that is configured by SrSO4 and (Co, Fe)3O4. The perovskite oxide is expressed by the general formula ABO3 and contains at least one of Sr and La at the A site. The (Co, Fe)3O4 contained in the electrolyte layer-side region contains Co and Fe. An occupied surface area ratio of the second phase in a cross section of the solid electrolyte layer-side region is less than or equal to 10.5%.

Abstract: A controller controls a bi-directional converter which includes: a first input/output terminal and a second input/output terminal for receiving and outputting a voltage stepped up by a step-up operation and a voltage stepped down by a step-down operation; a first switching element; a second switching element; and an inductor. The controller includes: a first driver which controls the first switching element via a first resistance circuit; a second driver which controls the second switching element via a second resistance circuit; and an operation mode setter which selects one of the step-up operation and the step-down operation, wherein at least one of the first resistance circuit and the second resistance circuit is a variable resistance circuit which has a resistance value that varies for the step-up operation and the step-down operation, in accordance with selection made by the operation mode setter.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell has an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode contains a main phase which is configured by a perovskite oxide expressed by the general formula ABO3 and including at least one of La or Sr at the A site, and a second phase which is configured by Co3O4 and (Co, Fe)3O4. An occupied surface area ratio of the second phase in a cross section of the cathode is less than or equal to 10.5%.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell has an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer. The cathode contains a perovskite oxide expressed by the general formula ABO3 and including at least one of Sr and La at the A site as a main component. The solid electrolyte layer is disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a solid electrolyte layer-side region within 3 ?m from a surface of the solid electrolyte layer side. The solid electrolyte layer-side region includes a main phase which is configured by the perovskite oxide and a second phase which is configured by CO3O4 and (Co, Fe)3O4. An occupied surface area ratio of the second phase in a cross section of the solid electrolyte layer-side region is less than or equal to 10.5%.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode active layer, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and the cathode active layer. The cathode active layer includes a first region which is disposed facing the solid electrolyte layer, and a second region which is disposed on the first region. An average particle diameter of first constituent particles which constitute the first region is smaller than an average particle diameter of second constituent particles which constitute the second region.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell according to the present invention has an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode contains a main phase and a second phase. The main phase is configured with a perovskite oxide which is expressed by the general formula ABO3 and includes at least one of Sr and La at the A site. The second phase is configured with SrSO4 and (Co, Fe) 3O4. An occupied surface area ratio of the second phase in a cross section of the cathode is less than or equal to 10.5%.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a perovskite oxide as a main component. The perovskite oxide is expressed by the general formula ABO3 and includes at least one of La and Sr at the A site. The cathode includes a surface region that is within 5 micrometers from the surface opposite the solid electrolyte layer. The surface region contains a main phase configured by the perovskite oxide and a secondary phase that is configured by strontium oxide. The occupied surface area ratio of the secondary phase in a cross section of the surface region is greater than or equal to 0.05% to less than or equal to 3%.