Patents by Inventor Yoshihiko Nakano

Yoshihiko Nakano has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8815447
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a fuel cell anode, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell, so as to obtain high electric power. The fuel cell anode has an electrode catalyst layer, and the electrode catalyst layer comprises a supported catalyst comprises electrically conductive carriers and fine catalytic particles supported thereon, a proton-conductive inorganic oxide supporting SiO2 on its surface, and a proton-conductive organic polymer binder. The SiO2 supported on the inorganic oxide prevents the oxide particles from growing, to ensure the high electric power. It is necessary to control the mixing ratios among the supported catalyst, the proton-conductive oxide and the proton-conductive binder in particular ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano, Yasuhiro Goto
  • Patent number: 8758959
    Abstract: The processes include: a layer superposition step in which the step of sputtering or vapor-depositing a mixture layer including a first pore-forming metal and a catalyst metal on a substrate and the step of forming an interlayer of a second pore-forming metal or a fibrous-carbon interlayer are alternately conducted repeatedly two or more times to thereby form a multilayer structure containing mixture layers and interlayers; and a pore formation step in which after the layer superposition step, the multilayer structure is subjected to a pore formation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8637207
    Abstract: A fuel cartridge includes a container having an outlet port section, and a liquid fuel provided in the container. The liquid fuel contains a cationic impurity excluding H+. The concentration of the cationic impurity falls within a range of 1×10?7 to 6×10?6 equivalent/L at the outlet port section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Nakano, Kazuhiro Yasuda, Hideyuki Oozu
  • Patent number: 8580462
    Abstract: The carbon fibers of this invention is characterized in that irreducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm and reducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm were mixed by pulverizing and then, the mixture was heat treated under the reducing atmosphere and metal particles in a mean particle size below 1 ?m were obtained, and the mixed powder of the thus obtained metal particles with the irreducible inorganic material particles are included in the carbon fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiichi Suenaga, Maki Yonetsu, Norihiro Tomimatsu, Hideyuki Oozu, Yasuhiro Goto, Yoshihiko Nakano, Shinichi Onodera
  • Publication number: 20130260286
    Abstract: An oxygen reduction catalyst of an embodiment includes: a stack of single-layer graphenes; and a phosphorus compound, wherein some of carbon atoms of the graphenes are replaced by nitrogen atoms, and the phosphorus compound has a peak of phosphorus 2p orbital of 133.0 to 134.5 eV in X-ray photoelectron spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Naito, Yoshihiko Nakano, Norihiro Yoshinaga, Shigeru Matake, Yoshihiro Akasaka
  • Publication number: 20130081678
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conductive material includes a carbon substance and a metallic substance mixed with and/or laminated to the carbon substance. The carbon substance has at least one dimension of 200 nm or less. The carbon substance includes a graphene selected from single-layered graphene and multi-layered graphene, a part of carbon atoms constituting the graphene is substituted with a nitrogen atom. The metallic substance includes at least one of a metallic particle and a metallic wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Katsuyuki NAITO, Norihiro YOSHINAGA, Yoshihiko NAKANO, Yoshihiro AKASAKA, Shigeru MATAKE
  • Patent number: 8349521
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a fuel electrode, an oxidizing agent electrode, and an electrolyte membrane provided between the fuel electrode and the oxidizing agent electrode with at least one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizing agent electrode contains a proton conductive inorganic oxide, which includes an oxide carrier containing Ti, Zr, Si and/or Al; and W, Mo, Cr and/or V oxide particles supported on a surface of the oxide carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano, Hideo Oota
  • Patent number: 8334233
    Abstract: A catalyst layer-supporting substrate includes a substrate and a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer includes a catalyst material and pores. The catalyst layer is formed on the substrate. The catalyst material has a layer or wire shape. A half-value width of a main peak of the catalyst material, as determined from X-ray diffraction spectrum of the catalyst layer, is 1.5° or more. A porosity of the catalyst layer is 30% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Jun Tamura, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8318382
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a catalyst layer of an electrode for a fuel cell has a proton conductive inorganic oxide containing an oxide superacid compound. The compound contains an element X (Titanium, Zirconium, Silicon, Tin, Hafnium, Germanium, Gallium, Indium, Cerium, Niobium or Aluminum) and an element Y (Tungsten, Molybdenum, Chromium, Boron or Vanadium). The catalyst layer also contains a reduction-oxidation metal catalyst or a carrier carrying a reduction-oxidation metal catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano, Wu Mei
  • Publication number: 20120241315
    Abstract: An electrolysis device of an embodiment includes: an anode, a cathode having a nitrogen-containing carbon alloy catalyst, and an electrolysis cell having a membrane electrode assembly composed of an electrolyte present between the anode and the cathode so that voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, wherein the electrolyte is any one of acidic, neutral, or alkali, water is produced by the electrolysis device at the cathode, when the electrolyte is acidic, and hydroxide ion is produced by the electrolysis device at the anode, when the electrolyte is neutral or alkali.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Norihiro Yoshinaga, Yoshihiko Nakano, Norihiro Tomimatsu, Yoshihiro Akasaka
  • Patent number: 8211825
    Abstract: A methanol oxidation catalyst comprises a material of composition: PtxMzTau in which Pt is platinum, Ta is tantalum, M is an element includes at least one selected from the group consisting of V (vanadium), W (tungsten), Ni (nickel) and Mo (molybdenum), x is 40 to 98 at. %, z is 1.5 to 55 at. %, and u is 0.5 to 40 at. %. To maximize catalytic activity the material is preferably in the form of nanoparticles. The values of x, z and u are selected such that the element exhibits X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy peaks derived from an oxygen bond and a metal bond in which a peak area derived from the oxygen bond is twice or less of a peak area derived from the metal bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Intematix Corporation
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Taishi Fukazawa, Itsuko Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Nakano, Mina Farag, Shinji Aoki, Yi-Qun Li
  • Publication number: 20120164555
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collector member 10 comprising a sheet-shaped base material 11 having a carbon-containing fiber 11a and catalyst particles 12 adhered to an outer periphery of the fiber 11a, containing a noble metal or an alloy thereof, and having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 2 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mutsuki YAMAZAKI, Yoshihiko Nakano, Wu Mei
  • Patent number: 8197965
    Abstract: This invention provides an anode for a fuel cell which can realize stable output for a long period of time, and a fuel cell using the anode for a fuel cell. The anode for a fuel cell comprises an electrode catalyst layer, the electrode catalyst layer comprising a supported catalyst comprising an electroconductive carrier material and catalyst fine particles supported on the electroconductive carrier material, a proton conductive inorganic oxide, and a proton conductive organic polymer binder, the weight ratio between the supported catalyst (C) and the proton conductive inorganic oxide (SA), WSA/WC, being 0.06 to 0.38, the weight ratio between the proton conductive inorganic oxide (SA) and the proton conductive organic polymer binder (P), WP/WSA, being 0.125 to 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano, Wu Mei, Taishi Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 8187745
    Abstract: A cathode for a fuel cell is provided, which includes an electrode catalyst layer. This electrode catalyst layer is constituted by a carried catalyst including a conductive carrier and catalytic fine particles carried on the conductive carrier, by a proton-conductive inorganic oxide containing an oxide carrier and oxide particles carried on a surface of the oxide carrier, and by a proton-conductive organic polymer binder. The carried catalyst is incorporated therein at a weight of WC. Silicon oxide is carried on the surface of the proton-conductive inorganic oxide at a weight ratio of 0.1-0.5 times as much as the weight of the proton-conductive inorganic oxide. The proton-conductive inorganic oxide is incorporated at a weight of WSA+SiO2. The weight ratio (WSA+SiO2/WC) is confined to 0.01-0.25. The proton-conductive organic polymer binder is incorporated at a weight of WP, the weigh ratio (WP/WSA+SiO2) is confined to 0.5-43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8173306
    Abstract: A catalyst is provided and includes fine catalyst particles of a composition represented by formula (1): PtuRuxTayTz, in which T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Hf, W, Ni, and V; u, x, y, and z are 10 to 98.9 atm %, 0.1 to 50 atm %, 0.5 to 35 atm %, and 0.5 to 35 atm %, respectively, or formula (2): PtuRuxTayTz, in which T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ct, Mo, Nb, Zr, and T; u, x, y, and z are 40 to 70 atm %, 0.1 to 50 atm %, 0.5 to 15 atm %, and 0.5 to 15 atm %, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Itsuko Mizutani, Wu Mei, Taishi Fukazawa, Takahiro Sato, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8128986
    Abstract: A method for producing a catalyst-layer-supporting substrate includes a lamination step of forming a laminate of metal catalyst layers and mixture layers on a substrate by repeating a first step and a second step plural times alternatively; and an acid treatment step of subjecting the laminate to an acid treatment, wherein the first step is a step of sputtering or depositing the metal catalyst layer that comprises a catalyst, and the second step is a step of sputtering or depositing the mixture layer of carbon and metal, the metal of the mixture layer including at least one element M selected from the group consisting of Sn, Al, Cu and Zn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Taishi Fukazawa, Takahiro Sato, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8080347
    Abstract: There is provided a catalyst for a fuel cell, which simultaneously realizes excellent catalytic activity and catalytic stability. The catalyst for a fuel cell comprises a fine particle of a metal represented by formula: PtxRuySizT1u wherein T1 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), vanadium (V), and molybdenum (Mo); x=30 to 90 atomic %; y=0 to 50 atomic %; z=0.5 to 20 atomic %; and u=0.5 to 40 atomic %, or comprises a fine particle of a metal represented by formula: PtxRuySizT2u wherein T2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium (Hf), tin (Sn), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), chromium (Cr), and aluminum (Al); x=30 to 90 atomic %; y=0 to 50 atomic %; z=0.5 to 20 atomic %; and u=0.5 to 40 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Taishi Fukazawa, Takahiro Sato, Itsuko Mizutani, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 7931935
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a membrane electrode assembly which has high and stable catalytic activity, and suppressed deterioration in catalytic activity during operation, and can prevent a deterioration in performance attributable to a structural factor of the membrane electrode assembly. The process comprises the step of, after the washing/removing step, drying the catalyst electrode in an atmosphere having a lower oxygen partial pressure than the air. The anode/cathode is a covered catalyst electrode having a structure formed by supporting/depositing a catalytically active material composed mainly of platinum/ruthenium subjected to the potential holding step, the washing/removing step, and the drying step, on a porous electroconductive carrier to cover at least a part of the porous electroconductive carrier with the ion conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamamoto, Wu Mei, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Taishi Fukazawa, Itsuko Mizutani, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 7892694
    Abstract: An electrolytic membrane comprising a porous membrane substrate containing a cross-linked polymer electrolyte having at least a structural component shown by following chemical formula 1: wherein A represents a repeating unit having an aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted by at least a sulfonic acid group, B represents a repeating unit having one of a nitrogen-containing hetero ring compound residue, and the sulfate, hydrochloride or organic sulfonate thereof, C represents a repeating unit having a cross-linked group, and X, Y and Z represent mol fractions of respective repeating units in the chemical formula 1, with 0.34?X?0.985, 0.005?Y?0.49, 0.01?Z?0.495 and Y?X and Z?X, provided that, in the repeating unit A, a ratio of the aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted by at least a sulfonic acid group is 0.3 to 1.0, and the number of the sulfonic acid group in the aromatic hydrocarbon group is 1 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Nakano, Hideo Ohta, Kazuhiro Yasuda, Jun Tamura
  • Patent number: 7887940
    Abstract: A proton conductive inorganic material includes oxide particles containing at least one element X selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, Cr, B and V, an oxide carrier carrying the oxide particles and containing at least one element Y selected from the group consisting of Sn, Hf, Ge, Ga, In, Ce and Nb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano, Hideo Oota