Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell comprising: a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of electrodes sandwiching the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a first separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one of the electrodes; and a second separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, wherein each of the electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer comprising at least a conductive carbon particle carrying an electrode catalyst particle and a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte, the electrode catalyst layer being in contact with the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, and at least one of the electrodes comprises a catalyst for trapping the fuel gas or the oxidant gas which has passed through the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane from the other electrode toward the electrode catalyst layer of the one of the electrodes.

Abstract: A porous supporting carbon body of a gas diffusion layer is provided with a larger number of smaller pores at its catalyst layer side and a smaller number of larger pores at the other side, particularly with an appropriate distribution of finer mesh at its catalyst layer side and coarser mesh at the other side. As a result, a high performance polymer electrolyte fuel cell is obtained in which water generated at the catalyst layer is quickly sucked out to the gas diffusion layer, and is evaporated at the gas diffusion layer to be effectively exhausted to outside the fuel cell, so that excessive water can be prevented from retaining in the gas diffusion electrode, with the polymer electrolyte membrane being maintained at an appropriately wet condition.

Abstract: For the purpose of efficiently producing an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly which is excellent in the bond strength between layers and the like, a method for producing an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly is provided which conducts either sequentially or simultaneously the step of injecting an electrolyte ink to form an electrolyte layer and the step of injecting a catalyst layer ink to form a catalyst layer on the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A functional member having a molecular layer on its surface, wherein the molecular layer is formed through a coordinate bond, and the coordinate bond is a multidentate bond in which at least one molecule is bonded to one metallic atom of the member and two or more ligands of the molecule are coordinated.

Abstract: A method for producing a membrane electrode assembly 1 for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the membrane electrode assembly 1 including a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 comprising an ion exchange membrane, a first electrode 3 having a first catalyst layer 31, and a second electrode 4 having a second catalyst layer 41,the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 being disposed so as to be opposed to each other via the ion exchange membrane, the method including: applying a coating solution containing a catalyst onto a base film 101 to form a first catalyst layer 31; applying a coating solution containing an ion exchange resin dissolved or dispersed in a liquid onto the first catalyst layer 31 to form an ion exchange membrane; then applying a coating solution containing a catalyst onto the ion exchange membrane to form a second catalyst layer 41; and finally, peeling off the base film 101 from a resulting laminate.

Abstract: By forming a film that comprises a microcrystalline polymer having at least a fluorocarbon group and has a rough surface on a surface of a base material, super-water-repellency is provided, the dew condensation water of an air conditioner, for example, can be easily removed, and the freezing of the fin of the heat exchanger can be prevented. A fin that is made of aluminium is coated with a solution for forming a coating film, in which CF3(CF2)7—(CH2)2—SiCl3 is diluted with nonaqueous cyclohexamethyl trisiloxane at a concentration of 10 vol. % for preparation, to a thickness of 1 to 10 &mgr;m by a brush, and then the cyclohexamethyl trisiloxane is vaporized in an atmosphere having a relative humidity of about 75% at room temperature. CF3(CF2)7—(CH2)2—SiCl3 that remained on the fin is rapidly hydrolyzed with the moisture in the atmosphere, and the moisture in air and a —SiCl3 group dehydrochlorinated to form a microcrystalline polymer on the fin.

Abstract: A thin film composed of a silane-based compound comprising an alkyl group or a fluoroalkyl group is bonded to the surface of an electrically insulating substrate through a covalent bond, thus obtaining an electrically chargeable substrate maintaining a charged state for a long time regardless of relative humidity of an atmosphere. A glass plate for placing a sheet in an overhead projector is dipped into a solution comprising CF3(CF)7(CH2)2SiCl3. As a result, a molecular composed of CF3(CF2)7(CH2)2Si(O)3—is chemically bonded to the glass surface. A high charged state, a water-repelling property having a static contact angle of pure water on the thin film formed on the glass surface of 110 degrees and a volume electric resistivity in the range of 1×1011−1×1019&OHgr;·cm are provided.

Abstract: An electrically insulating film capable of maintaining a preferable insulating property even with a film thickness of only some &mgr;and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. The insulating film comprises a first layer formed on a surface of a conductor substrate of a transition metal and comprised of molecules fixed on the surface of the conductor substrate through chemical bonds such as transition metal-sulfur bonds or chelate bonds, and a second layer formed on the first layer and comprised of a resin bonded to the molecules of the first layer through covalent bonds.

Abstract: A method for forming a molecular film includes the steps of: coating a surface of a substrate having active hydrogen atoms on its surface with a coating solution containing a silane-based compound having at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of a chloro group, an alkoxy group and an isocyanate group; and effecting an elimination reaction between the active hydrogen atoms on the surface of the substrate and reactive groups of the silane-based compound, thereby covalently bonding the silane-based compounds to the surface of the substrate. The substrate is supplied to a chamber in which an atmosphere is maintained at a low water vapor density. The surface of the substrate is coated with a coating solution containing the silane-based compound and a solvent by using a transfer element. A dehydrochlorination reaction is effected between the active hydrogen atoms and the chloro groups of the silane-based compounds.

Abstract: It is provided a water repellent coating method and apparatus which permits efficient coating either plain or curved surfaces of articles. There is disclosed in the present specification a water repellent coating method comprises the steps of: (a) loading to a carrier in the form of endless belt a coating solution containing at least a water repellent, (b) bringing said carrier into contact with an article to transfer said coating solution on the material, and (c) forming a water repellent film on said article.

Abstract: By forming a film that comprises a microcrystalline polymer having at least a fluorocarbon group and has a rough surface on a surface of a base material, super-water-repellency is provided, the dew condensation water of an air conditioner, for example, can be easily removed, and the freezing of the fin of the heat exchanger can be prevented. A fin that is made of aluminium is coated with a solution for forming a coating film, in which CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --SiCl.sub.3 is diluted with nonaqueous cyclohexamethyl trisiloxane at a concentration of 10 vol. % for preparation, to a thickness of 1 to 10 .mu.m by a brush, and then the cyclohexamethyl trisiloxane is vaporized in an atmosphere having a relative humidity of about 75% at room temperature. CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --SiCl.sub.3 that remained on the fin is rapidly hydrolyzed with the moisture in the atmosphere, and the moisture in air and a --SiCl.sub.

Abstract: A method for forming a molecular film includes the steps of: coating a surface of a substrate having active hydrogen atoms on its surface with a coating solution containing a silane-based compound having at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of a chloro group, an alkoxy group and an isocyanate group; and effecting an elimination reaction between the active hydrogen atoms on the surface of the substrate and reactive groups of the silane-based compound, thereby covalently bonding the silane-based compounds to the surface of the substrate. The substrate is supplied to a chamber in which an atmosphere is maintained at a low water vapor density. The surface of the substrate is coated with a coating solution containing the silane-based compound and a solvent by using a transfer element. A dehydrochlorination reaction is effected between the active hydrogen atoms and the chloro groups of the silane-based compounds.

Abstract: A latent image comprising a first substance formed on a substrate of a second substance having a surface tension different from a surface tension of the first substance, the first substance and the substrate having a difference of 0.1 to 100 nm in height from each other. The latent image is formed by a method comprising the-step of subjecting a substrate of a first substance to a chemical treatment or a physical treatment to form a surface of a second substance which has a surface tension different from a surface tension of the first substance and has a difference of 0.1 to 100 nm in height from the substrate on part of the substrate. The latent image is developed by a method comprising the steps of contacting a latent image comprising a first substance formed on a substrate of a second substance having a surface tension different from a surface tension of the first substance with a third substance different from the first substance and the second substance, and applying a developing ray to the latent image.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a chemically bonding material comprising the steps of: mixing a compound expressed by a general formula ABX.sub.n (Formula 1), wherein A shows a group including carbon, B indicates Si, Ge, Sn, Ti or Zr, X is a hydrolyzable group and n indicates 1, 2 or 3, and at least one kind of compound not including active hydrogen groups in a dry atmosphere having a water vapor density of 0.0076 kg/m.sup.3 or less; and storing the same in a dry atmosphere having a water vapor density of 0.0076 kg/m.sup.3 or less. A coating solution including compounds that are easily hydrolyzed is stored in a dry state so that the material is not deactivated before reacting with a substrate.