Abstract: A solid electrolyte membrane includes: a porous material layer and an inorganic material layer. The porous material layer has a through-hole that is filled with an electrolyte. The inorganic material layer is provided so as to face to at least either side of a principal surface of the porous material layer and has an opening that is filled with an electrolyte. A solid electrolyte membrane alternatively includes: a first porous layer and a second porous layer. The first porous layer has a through-hole that is filled with an electrolyte. The second porous layer is provided so as to face to at least either side of a principal surface of the first porous layer and has an opening that is filled with an electrolyte. The average diameter of the opening is smaller than the average diameter of the through-hole.

Abstract: A switch element includes a substrate; a plurality of carbon nanotubes provided upright on the substrate; magnetic particles arranged at tip ends of the carbon nanotubes respectively; and a plurality of conductive layers formed between base ends of the carbon nanotubes and the substrate. A switching operation of the switching element is performed in such a manner that the carbon nanotubes or the magnetic particles are brought into contact with each other according to an electrical potential between the conductive layers, and the carbon nanotubes are separated from each other when an electrical current flows through the carbon nanotubes with the carbon nanotubes or the magnetic particles brought into contact with each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell, which can supply stable output even at elevated temperatures and can maintain its power generation performance over a long period of time, can be realized by an electrode for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst layer formed of a catalyst composite and a binder, the catalyst composite comprising a proton-conductive inorganic oxide and an oxidation-reduction catalyst phase supported on the proton-conductive inorganic oxide, the proton-conductive inorganic oxide comprising a catalyst carrier selected from tin(Sn)-doped In2O3, fluorine(F)-doped SnO2, and antimony(Sb)-doped SnO2 and an oxide particle phase chemically bonded to the surface of the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: A fuel cell which generates electricity by using a fuel and oxygen, includes: an anode; a cathode; and a plate-like member provided between the anode and the cathode, the plate-like member including: a matrix having a plurality of through holes; and an electrolytic material buried in the through holes. The electrolytic material allows passage of protons and preventing passage of the fuel. The through holes have an aperture ratio distributed in the plate-like member so that the plate-like member has a uniform in-plane temperature when reaction between the anode and the cathode reaches a steady state.

Abstract: A catalyst includes a conductive carrier and catalyst particles. The catalyst particles are supported on the conductive carrier and have a composition represented by formula 1, below. An area of a peak derived from a metal bond of a T-element is 15% or more of an area of a peak derived from an oxygen bond of the T-element in a spectrum obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic method. PtxRuyTz ??(1) where the T-element is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Nb and Hf, x is 30 to 60 at. %, y is 20 to 50 at. % and z is 5 to 50 at. %.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane includes a porous membrane and a proton conductive inorganic material loaded in the porous membrane. The proton conductive inorganic material has a super strong acidity. The proton conductive inorganic material contains a first oxide and a second oxide bonded to the first oxide. The first oxide contains an element X formed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn and Ce. The second oxide contains an element Y formed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Me, W and B.

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.

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.

Abstract: Catalysts contain noble metal-containing particles that has a composition except oxygen represented by a formula PtXRuYAZSnS and exhibits a mean particle diameter of from 0.5 nm to 10 nm, both inclusively. A is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Rh, Au, Pd, Ir and Os, and X, Y, Z and S are atomic ratios satisfying relations 30?X?70, 30?Y?70, 0?Z?40, 0.5?S?8 and X+Y+Z+S=100.

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 Aluminium) 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.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell, including a porous catalytic carrier including conductive fibers having two particle diameter distribution peaks of a first particle diameter distribution peak existing at a small particle diameter side and a second particle diameter distribution peak existing at a large particle diameter side, wherein said conducting fibers are carbon nano-fibers formed from a catalyst for formation prepared by preparing a mixed powder including one or more of a reducible metallic oxide powder and a non-reducible metallic oxide powder, mixing and pulverizing the mixed powder, and heating the mixed powder under reducing atmosphere; catalyst to be carried on said conductive fibers belonging to the first particle diameter distribution peak; and a proton conductive material adhered on surface of at least the conducive fibers belonging to the first particle diameter distribution peak, so as to come into contact with the catalyst.

Abstract: A switch element includes a substrate; a plurality of carbon nanotubes provided upright on the substrate; magnetic particles arranged at tip ends of the carbon nanotubes respectively; and a plurality of conductive layers formed between base ends of the carbon nanotubes and the substrate. A switching operation of the switching element is performed in such a manner that the carbon nanotubes or the magnetic particles are brought into contact with each other according to an electrical potential between the conductive layers, and the carbon nanotubes are separated from each other when an electrical current flows through the carbon nanotubes with the carbon nanotubes or the magnetic particles brought into contact with each other.

Abstract: A supported catalyst includes an oxide carrier, catalyst particles supported on the oxide carrier, and catalyst layers which locate among the catalyst particles, with interface portions among the oxide carrier, the catalyst particles and the catalyst layers. The catalyst layers have a melting point lower than 1,500° C. and contain an oxide or a composite oxide which includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Sn and Ru.

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.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuel cell catalyst including a carbon support containing at least one first element selected from the group consisting of B, N, and P, and catalyst particles supported on the carbon support, wherein the catalyst particles include at least one of platinum particles and alloy particles containing Pt and an element A, and the element A contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of platinum group elements and period 4 to 6 transition metal elements.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for inspecting a fuel cell that can simply inspect fuel cell characteristics. The method is an inspecting method for a direct methanol fuel cell generator comprising an anode electrode including an node catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and N pieces of cells having an electrolyte disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, for power generation by feeding an aqueous methanol solution to the anode electrode and an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The fuel cell generator is inspected by measuring voltage changes of the voltage V of one electromotive unit caused by generating a current density change ?I or ??I (mA/cm2) satisfying the condition of 0.2??I?5 in a finite current density I (mA/cm2) loaded on the plural electromotive units arbitrarily connected in series in the fuel cell generator under power generation during a time interval ?t (sec) satisfying the condition of 10?5??t?0.5.

Abstract: A fuel cell cartridge filled with liquid fuel includes a warning mechanism including a detector to detect a concentration of metal ions in the liquid fuel and a comparator to compare the concentration of metal ions with a predetermined value, and issuing a warning when the concentration of the metal ions exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst, including a catalyst particle containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum and an gold alloy, the gold alloy containing gold and at least one element selected from transition metal elements of the fourth period, fifth period and sixth period of the Periodic Table, and a catalyst carrier carrying the catalyst particle and containing a perovskite type oxide represented by general formula (1) given below: A(1-x)BxTiOy??(1) where the element A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba, the element B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, the molar ratio x satisfies 0<x<1, and the molar ratio y satisfies 2.7?y?3.

Abstract: A cathode includes a diffusion layer, and a porous catalyst layer provided on the diffusion layer. The porous catalyst layer has a thickness not greater than 60 ?m, a porosity of 30 to 70% and a pore diameter distribution including a peak in a range of 20 to 200 nm of a pore diameter. A volume of pores having a diameter of 20 to 200 nm is not less than 50% of a pore volume of the porous catalyst layer. The porous catalyst layer contains a supported catalyst comprising 10 to 30% by weight of a fibrous supported catalyst and 70 to 90% by weight of a granular supported catalyst. The fibrous supported catalyst includes a carbon nanofiber having a herringbone structure or a platelet structure. The granular supported catalyst includes a carbon black having 200 to 600 mL/100 g of a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption value.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for inspecting a fuel cell that can simply inspect fuel cell characteristics. The method is an inspecting method for a direct methanol fuel cell generator comprising an anode electrode including an node catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and N pieces of cells having an electrolyte disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, for power generation by feeding an aqueous methanol solution to the anode electrode and an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The fuel cell generator is inspected by measuring voltage changes of the voltage V of one electromotive unit caused by generating a current density change ?I or ??I (mA/cm2) satisfying the condition of 0.2??I?5 in a finite current density I (mA/cm2) loaded on the plural electromotive units arbitrarily connected in series in the fuel cell generator under power generation during a time interval ?t (sec) satisfying the condition of 10?5??t?0.5.