Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack that includes an inlet manifold that distributes supplies of the gaseous fuel, the oxidant gas, and cooling water in a sequence of lamination from a unit cell on one end of the cell laminate to a unit cell on the other end of the cell laminate and an outlet manifold that discharges exhausts of the gaseous fuel, the oxidant gas, and the cooling water in an inverted sequence of lamination from the unit cell on the other end of the cell laminate to the unit cell on the one end of the cell laminate. This configuration actualizes a small-sized, compact fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a large economical advantage uses a gasket which includes an elastomer layer that is inexpensive, highly resistant to chemicals, particularly to acids, and exhibits a high sealability. The elastomer layer is provided with an adhesive layer, and the gasket is both easy to position and easy to assemble. The fuel cell includes unit cells each including a positive electrode, an electrolyte plate, and a negative electrode, and gaskets each arranged at the circumferential part of the unit cell alternately stacked via a separator placed therebetween. The gasket includes an elastomer layer and an adhesive layer, with the elastomer layer being adhered to at least one side of the separator via the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A measuring method for determining the specific surface area available for reaction of a noble metal catalyst of an electrode for use in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The method includes measuring the total specific surface area of the noble metal catalyst and the specific surface area of the noble metal catalyst mixed with a polymer electrolyte by detecting the adsorption amounts of carbon monoxide upon exposure to carbon monoxide after reduction in hydrogen, and subtracting the latter from the former. Also provided is an electrode material for use in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell having excellent polarization characteristics by controlling the utilization of a noble metal catalyst determined from the total specific surface area and specific surface area available for reaction of the noble metal catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel cell device, wherein, after an output voltage from a main body of a fuel cell is converted using a converter, the relation between the resultant predetermined output voltage V 1 and an output voltage V 2 from a secondary battery is so set as to satisfy V 1>V 2. When, at the time of a sudden change of an external load, the output voltage V from the main body of the fuel cell becomes lower than a predetermined voltage V 3, an output to a charge controlling unit is stopped. When the output voltage V from the main body of the fuel cell is lowered even further and becomes lower than a predetermined voltage V 4, an output to an auxiliary device, which is necessary for driving the fuel cell device, is switched from the output from the converter to the output from the secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a small-sized, light-weighted mechanism for fastening a stack of unit cells assembly.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer including an electroconductive porous material and 16-55% by weight of fluororesin added to the electroconductive porous material is used for at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a membrane/electrodes assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. As a result, the water-retaining property of the inside of the membrane/electrodes assembly is improved without hindering gas diffusion, thus enabling polymer electrolyte to be moistened with water formed at the positive electrode, and thereby providing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell which operates by using unhumidified gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus of a compact size uses a hydrogen storage alloy, in which heat can be efficiently transmitted from fuel cell bodies to the hydrogen storage alloy. The fuel cell apparatus includes a plurality of fuel cell bodies, a hydrogen storage tank, a hydrogen supply device for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell bodies from the hydrogen storage tank, an air feed device for supplying the air, supplying oxygen, a secondary battery, and a casing receiving the above components therein which casing has air intake ports and an air discharge port for the air feed device, and is formed as to enable the hydrogen storage tank to be introduced into and removed from the casing. The hydrogen storage tank is disposed on that side surface of each of at least one pair of fuel cell bodies, facing away from a cathode thereof, through a heat transmission device.

Abstract: An electrode of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells is produced by a step of preparing a mixed liquid containing an organic solvent, a noble metal catalyst-supporting carbon powder and a colloid of a solid polymer electrolyte having a particle size of from 1 nm to less than 400 nm, the colloid being adsorbed to the carbon powder and a step of forming an electrode by coating the mixed liquid on one side of a gas-diffusible layer. The solid polymer electrolyte is effectively adsorbed to the surface of the catalyst and thus a wide reaction area can be secured. Furthermore, thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte layer can be controlled to one in which hydrogen and oxygen can be easily diffused.

Abstract: A miniaturized fuel cell assembly to power portable electronic equipment includes a hydride hydrogen storage unit, a control unit for controlling the flow of hydrogen, a hydrogen supply device interconnecting the hydrogen storage unit and the fuel cell body, and an air feed device to supply oxygen necessary for the generation of electricity. The fuel cell assembly may also have an air feed device to cool the interior of the equipment, including a water retention device for recovering and retaining water formed in the fuel cell body, and a humidifying device using the recovered water to humidify the hydrogen to be supplied to the fuel cell body. The miniaturized fuel cell assembly facilitates the effective transfer of waste heat from the fuel cell to the hydrogen storage unit, and as a result of its ability to be used repeatedly, can be utilized for a greater length of time than a conventional primary or secondary power cell.

Abstract: A measuring method for determining the specific surface area available for reaction of a noble metal catalyst of an electrode for use in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The method includes measuring the total specific surface area of the noble metal catalyst and the specific surface area of the noble metal catalyst mixed with a polymer electrolyte by detecting the adsorption amounts of carbon monoxide upon exposure to carbon monoxide after reduction in hydrogen, and subtracting the latter from the former. Also provided is an electrode material for use in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell having excellent polarization characteristics by controlling the utilization of a noble metal catalyst determined from the total specific surface area and specific surface area available for reaction of the noble metal catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention-provides a method for preparing a high-purity aqueous quaternary ammonium hydroxide solution, and there is here disclosed this method for preparing the high-purity aqueous quaternary ammonium hydroxide solution which comprises reacting a quaternary ammonium organic acid salt with hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a platinum group metal catalyst to produce a quaternary ammonium inorganic acid salt, and then electrolyzing this inorganic acid salt by the use of an electrolytic tank having a cation exchange membrane.