Abstract: A surface of a graphite target (139), irradiated with a laser beam (103), is formed in a plane. The graphite target (139) is held by a target holding unit (153) on a target supply plate (135). A plate holding unit (137) moves the target supply plate (135) in a translational manner, which allows an irradiation position of the laser beam (103) and the surface of the graphite target (139) to be relatively moved. A transportation pipe (141) communicated with a nanocarbon collecting chamber (119) is provided toward a direction in which a plume (109) is generated, and a generated carbon nanohorn aggregates (117) is collected in the nanocarbon collecting chamber (119).

Abstract: A plume (109) is generated by irradiating a side face of a graphite rod (101) with a laser beam (103) to vaporize carbon. The vaporized carbon is introduced to a carbon nanohorn recovery chamber (119) through a recovery pipe (155), and the vaporized carbon is recovered as a carbon nanohorn assembly (117). A cooling tank (150) including liquid nitrogen (151) is arranged in the recovery pipe (155). While the cooling tank (150) controls the plume (109) at a low temperature, the cooling tank (150) cools the carbon vapor when the carbon vapor passes through the recovery pipe (155). The cooled carbon vapor is recovered as the carbon nanohorn assembly (117) which is controlled in the desired shape and dimensions.

Abstract: A filter 900 is disposed at an opening part of a fuel container 811. The filter 900 is constituted by disposing a carbon dioxide permselective membrane on a vapor separation membrane. The filter 900 selectively transmits carbon dioxide in a fuel 124 to emit the carbon dioxide out of a fuel cell system This structure efficiently prevents the occurrence of the phenomena that carbon dioxide adheres to the fuel electrode 102, which is a cause of a reduction in cell efficiency and the generation of carbon dioxide increases pressure, which is a cause of breakage of the fuel container 811.

Abstract: An intermediate layer (161) is formed between a catalyst layer (112) and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (114). The intermediate layer (161) contains a protonic acid group-containing aromatic polyether ketone and catalyst particles.

Abstract: In a nanocarbon manufacturing apparatus (183), a spray (181) is provided at a side face of a nanocarbon recovery chamber (119), and a mist (195) is sprayed on the entire nanocarbon recovery chamber (119) from the spray (181).

Abstract: A plurality of fuel electrodes are disposed on one surface of a solid polyelectrolyte membrane, while a plurality of oxidizer electrodes are disposed on the other surface of the same to create a plurality of unit cells which share the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. These unit cells are electrically connected through connection electrode extending through the solid polyelectrolyte membrane. A groove is formed in a region of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane between adjacent unit cells. This groove limits the migration of hydrogen ions to adjacent unit cells to prevent a reduction in voltage. The resulting solid polymer fuel cell, which is in a simple structure and reduced in size, can provide high power.

Abstract: In a production chamber (107), a cylindrical graphite rod (101) is fixed to a rotation device (115), enabling the graphite rod (101) to rotate around its longitudinal axis and to move right and left along its longitudinal axis. The lateral surface of the graphite rod (101) is irradiated with laser light (103) from a laser light source (111), and a nanocarbon recovering chamber (119) is installed in the direction of generation of plume (109). The pulse width of the laser light (103) is from 0.5 sec. to 1.25 sec.

Abstract: A fuel cell (723) includes, a high-concentration fuel vessel (715) placed adjacent to a fuel vessel (713) that supplies a fuel (124) to a unit cell structure (101), and a permeation control film (717) that is placed at the boundary between the fuel vessel (713) and the high-concentration fuel vessel (715) and controls the transmission of a high-concentration fuel (725) in the fuel (124).

Abstract: A fuel cell system (800), including a plurality of unit cells (101), a container (801) having an inlet (809) introducing the gases such as carbon dioxide generated in the electrode reaction by these unit cells (101) and an exhaust vent (807) discharging the gases, and a catalyst layer (805) placed in the container (801) that oxidizes the gases introduced in the container (801), wherein the treated gas (806) after oxidation by the catalyst layer (805) is discharged through the exhaust vent (807) of the container (801).

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a fuel cell main unit (101), a fuel holder (334) and a transforming section (335). The fuel cell main unit (101) includes a fuel electrode (102) and an oxidant electrode (108), and generates electric power based on supplying of organic liquid fuel (124) to the fuel electrode (102) and oxidant (126) to the oxidant electrode (108). The fuel holder (334) stores the organic liquid fuel (124) and supplies the organic liquid fuel (124) to the fuel electrode (102). The transforming section (335) transforms the organic liquid fuel (124) into vapor or mist (337). The fuel holder (334) supplies the vapor or the mist (337) to the fuel electrode (102).

Abstract: In fuel cell (100), a metal fiber sheet is employed for a base member (104) and a base member (110) that composes a fuel electrode (102) and an oxidant electrode (108).

Abstract: Nanocarbon is produced stably in a large amount. In a production chamber (107), a graphite rod (101) having a cylindrical shape is fixed to a rotation apparatus (115) and is made capable of rotating with its axis being in the length direction of the graphite rod (101) and movable to the right or the left in the length direction. A side surface of the graphite rod (101) is irradiated with a laser beam (103) from a laser light source (111). A nanocarbon collecting chamber (119) is disposed in the direction of generation of plumes (109) so as to collect the generated carbon nanohorn aggregates 117.

Abstract: A production method and a production apparatus for stable mass production of nanocarbon are provided. In a production chamber (107), a graphite rod (101) having a cylindrical shape is fixed to a rotation apparatus (115), and is made to be capable of rotating with the length direction of the graphite rod (101) serving as an axis, and also moving to the right or the left in the length direction. The side surface of the graphite rod (101) is irradiated with a laser beam (103) from a laser light source (111), and a nanocarbon collecting chamber (119) is disposed in the direction of generation of plumes (109). On the other hand, the surface irradiated with the laser beam (103) among the side surfaces of the graphite rod (101) is speedily rotated by the rotation apparatus (115) and is flattened by a cutting tool (105). Cut dusts of the graphite rod (101) generated by the cutting tool (105) are collected into a cut graphite collecting chamber (121) and separated from the generated carbon nanohorn aggregates (117).

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst electrode and a manufacturing method of the same. When the catalyst electrode is used for a fuel cell, it is capable of suppressing an air, which is a by-product generated at a fuel electrode on a surface of the electrode, and quickly removing the adsorbed bubble-like air. Accordingly, the catalyst electrode is capable of increasing an effective catalyst surface of the fuel electrode and enhancing an output power of the fuel cell. Moreover, the present invention provides fuel cell and a manufacturing method of the same. The fuel cell is capable of suppressing an air, which is a by-product generated at the fuel electrode on the surface of the electrode and quickly removing the adsorbed bubble-like air. Accordingly, the fuel cell is capable of increasing an effective catalyst surface of the fuel electrode and enhancing an output power thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell which is small-sized and light-weight for mounting in a mobile device, and has a high output-density. A current-collector 421 of a fuel electrode (or a current-collector 423 of an oxidizer electrode) is bonded to a substrate 104 (or a substrate 110) of a fuel electrode 102 (or an oxidizer electrode 108) in a fuel cell 100, rendering the current-collector 421 (or the current-collector 423) to be thin and light-weight, and making it no longer necessary to use an end plate and a fastener. Fuel or oxidizer is supplied directly to a surface of the current-collector 421 or 423.

Abstract: A fuel cell (100) which has an electrode-electrolyte joined article (101) composed of a fuel electrode (102), an oxidizing agent electrode (108) and, sandwiched thereby, a solid polymer electrolyte (114), characterized in that a separation film (330) comprising a material exhibiting an oxygen/nitrogen separation factor of more than 1 is provided on the surface of an oxidizing agent electrode side current collector (110) constituting the oxidizing agent electrode (108). The fuel cell is a liquid fuel supply type of fuel cell which has a simple structure and also is capable of supplying satisfactory oxygen to an oxidizing agent electrode.

Abstract: An adhesive layer 3 is disposed between a carbon particle 2 and a catalyst substance 1 of a catalyst-supporting particle for a fuel cell containing the carbon particle 2 and the catalyst substance 1. Thereby, the catalyst-supporting particle for fuel cell can be obtained in which a contact resistance between the catalyst substance and the carbon particle supporting the same is lower, and the aggregation of the catalyst substance is suppressed. A catalyst electrode for a fuel cell and the fuel cell using the above particle have a higher output power and an excellent durability.

Abstract: A porous metal sheet (489) is used as an electrode substrate and the surface of a metal constituting the porous metal is roughened by etching. A plating layer of a catalyst (491) is formed on the surface on which irregularities are formed. This obtained electrode material is used as a fuel electrode (102) or an oxidizer electrode and these electrodes are bound with the solid electrolyte film (114).

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a fuel cell main unit (110) in which organic liquid fuel is supplied to a fuel electrode (102) as fuel, and a vibration generating unit (314, 324) which generates vibration to vibrate the fuel electrode (102) such that carbon dioxide generated at the fuel electrode is removed. The fuel cell may includes a control unit (463) which controls an operation of the vibration generating unit (314, 324) based on an output of the fuel cell main unit (110).

Abstract: An electrode sheet (489) is put in one side of a solid electrolyte membrane (114) at its cut portion. A base member (110) for an oxidant electrode side current collector electrode sheet (499) is placed at a location facing a base member (104) for the electrode sheet (489) formed on one face of the solid electrolyte membrane (114). In addition, the base member (104) for a fuel electrode side current collector electrode sheet (497) is placed at a location facing the base member (110) formed on the other face of the electrolyte film (114).