Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell in which a membrane electrode assembly less undergoes increase in ion conduction resistance, and a polymer electrolyte membrane less undergoes deterioration. Specifically, the polymer electrolyte membrane includes a first membrane and a second membrane being two different membranes composed of polymer electrolytes having different ion-exchange capacities, in which the first membrane has an area of one surface thereof equal to or larger than an area of one surface of an anode or a cathode, and the second membrane has an area of one surface thereof smaller than that of the first membrane and is arranged in a gas inflow region on a side being in contact with the cathode. The second membrane has an ion-exchange capacity smaller than that of the first membrane or has a number-average molecular weight larger than that of the first membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode catalyst material in which a resistance loss is reduced by enhancing an electric conductivity as a whole of an electrode catalyst as well as suppressing a corrosion and a disappearance by a catalyst metal in a conductive catalyst support so as to prevent a dropout and an aggregation of a catalyst metal particle, and a method of manufacturing the same. The electrode catalyst material in accordance with the present invention is an electrode catalyst material for a fuel cell having a catalyst metal particle and a carbon support supporting the catalyst metal particle, in which a carbon support protection layer including a metal element is formed in a coating manner on a surface of the carbon support, a silicone is included at 20 atomic % or more in the metal element contained in the carbon support protection layer, and the silicone exists in a state of an oxide and a carbide.

Abstract: In a membrane-electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane and having a constitution in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is interleaved between the anode and the cathode, an agglomerate structure of carbon support formed with a plurality of carbon primary particles supporting catalyst particles is contained in the anode and the cathode, and particulate media having polymer electrolyte on the surface thereof are contained between adjacent agglomerate structures of carbon supports.

Abstract: A fuel cell power system and an operating method thereof are proposed in which, the power generation performance of the fuel cell is effectively recovered in a short period of time without additionally requiring any reducing agent or an inactive gas and while minimizing the degradation of the catalyst in use. The fuel cell power system includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of cells each having a membrane electrode assembly and a separator are stacked and a secondary battery which can be charged by power generated by the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell power system can supply power from either the fuel cell stack or the secondary battery to an external device. The fuel cell power system is provided with a power generation cell connection/disconnection mechanism for individually connecting and disconnecting a conductor for electrical conduction between the anode and cathode of each cell included in the fuel cell stack which controlled by a control unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that influences less system efficiency of the fuel cell and reduces the amount of emission of hazardous materials for a long period of time. The membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode including a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte; a cathode including a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; an anode gas diffusion layer; and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a set composed of the anode, the cathode and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being interposed between the anode gas diffusion layer and the cathode gas diffusion layer, wherein the cathode gas diffusion layer contains an oxidation catalyst and a water-repellent resin.

Abstract: There is provided a composite catalyst in which metal particles having catalytic activity are supported at a high density on a surface of an inorganic oxide, and the supported metal particles are strongly fixed to the surface of the inorganic oxide to improve the durability of the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst includes the inorganic oxide and the metal particles. A compound having a functional group including an amino group or a thiol group is bonded to a surface of the inorganic oxide. The metal particles are bonded to the functional group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preventing liquid fuel that has penetrated from an anode from reaching a cathode and of effectively utilizing a cathode catalyst, which provides a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell having high output density. In a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell including an anode formed of a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, a cathode formed of a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane formed between the anode and the cathode, an intermediate layer is formed between the cathode and the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: To provide a catalyst for a fuel cell that has a high oxygen reduction activity and is manufactured at low cost and a fuel cell that has a high power generation efficiency and is manufactured at low cost. As a catalyst for a fuel cell that reduces an oxidizing gas, a catalyst for a fuel cell that contains palladium at least partially oxidized is used. In a fuel cell having an anode that oxidizes a fuel, a cathode that reduces an oxidizing gas and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, a palladium oxide is used as a cathode catalyst.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply unit configured with a fuel cell generating electric power that is stable over a longer period than similar prior art power supply units, which is achieved by preventing the accumulation of peroxides, one major cause of decreasing the MEA performance, thus extending the lifetime of the MEA. There is provided a power supply unit for supplying electric power to equipment, the power supply unit comprising a fuel cell and a control unit which controls an electrical load that is applied to the fuel cell, wherein a specified load and a low load where a cathode potential becomes higher than the cathode potential under the specified load are applied to the fuel cell alternately as the electrical load.

Abstract: A catalytic material and electrode of the present invention are characterized in that the catalyst carrier constituting the above-mentioned catalytic material and electrode includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, phosphor atoms, and sulfur atoms. Since the cohesion or growth of catalyst grains can hereby be suppressed, it is possible to provide a highly active catalyst, a high-performance electrode, and a high-output-density fuel cell which uses the same.

Abstract: A catalytic material and electrode of the present invention are characterized in that the catalyst carrier constituting the above-mentioned catalytic material and electrode includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, phosphor atoms, and sulfur atoms. Since the cohesion or growth of catalyst grains can hereby be suppressed, it is possible to provide a highly active catalyst, a high-performance electrode, and a high-output-density fuel cell which uses the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell that has a minute projection cluster on one side or both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane. Further, the present invention provides a production method of an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, wherein a mold comprising convex portions having a fixed planar pattern is pressed on one side or both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane, then while concave portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane formed in the concave portions are being stretched, the mold is removed from the polymer electrolyte membrane for forming a minute projection cluster.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a high-performance membrane electrode assembly high in adhesiveness to proton-conductive aromatic polymer membrane, low in interfacial resistance and high in voltage-current performance, and a fuel cell using the same. This invention consists in a membrane electrode assembly equipped with an anode electrode having a catalyst layer on one side surface of a proton-conductive aromatic polymer membrane and a cathode electrode on the other side surface of the membrane, wherein said catalyst layer has a catalyst and a ?-conjugated aromatic polymer having ion exchanging groups on side chains thereof.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a high-performance membrane electrode assembly high in adhesiveness to proton-conductive aromatic polymer membrane, low in interfacial resistance and high in voltage-current performance, and a fuel cell using the same. This invention consists in a membrane electrode assembly equipped with an anode electrode having a catalyst layer on one side surface of a proton-conductive aromatic polymer membrane and a cathode electrode on the other side surface of the membrane, wherein said catalyst layer has a catalyst and a n-conjugated aromatic polymer having ion exchanging groups on side chains thereof.

Abstract: A catalytic material and electrode of the present invention are characterized in that the catalyst carrier constituting the above-mentioned catalytic material and electrode includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, phosphor atoms, and sulfur atoms. Since the cohesion or growth of catalyst grains can hereby be suppressed, it is possible to provide a highly active catalyst, a high-performance electrode, and a high-output-density fuel cell which uses the same.

Abstract: A catalytic material and electrode of the present invention are characterized in that the catalyst carrier constituting the above-mentioned catalytic material and electrode includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, phosphor atoms, and sulfur atoms. Since the cohesion or growth of catalyst grains can hereby be suppressed, it is possible to provide a highly active catalyst, a high-performance electrode, and a high-output-density fuel cell which uses the same.

Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, by injecting an amount of hydrogen small enough not to increase a radiation dose rate of the main steam system, ECP of metallic component materials composing a nuclear reactor can be decreased to suppress the potential of occurrence of IGSCC, and the control can be easily performed, and the operating cost can be suppressed to increase. Occurrence of intergranular stress corrosion cracking in metallic component materials in contact with reactor cooling water is suppressed by injecting zirconium hydroxide and hydrogen into the reactor cooling water to decrease the electrochemical corrosion potential of the metallic component materials.

Abstract: To suppress a decrease of thickness due to corrosion of structural members and to achieve a removal of radionuclides with good efficiency in a nuclear power plant, oxidation decontamination is first conducted. An aqueous potassium permanganate solution is supplied from a circulation line to a reactor pressure vessel, which is a stainless steel structural member, and a reactor water cleanup system piping and a drain piping, which are carbon steel structural members. These structural members are oxidation-decontaminated by the action of potassium permanganate. Then the above-mentioned structural members are reduction-decontaminated by using an aqueous oxalic acid solution. The aqueous oxalic acid solution contains hydrazine.

Abstract: Surfaces of the structural components of a nuclear power plant exposed to reactor water are wetted with an electroless plating solution containing an electrical insulating substance. The electrical insulating substance has a high resistivity about 105 (100000) times those of the structural components of the nuclear power plant or above. A metal film containing the electrical insulating substance is formed on the surfaces of the structural components exposed to the reactor water by wetting the surfaces of the structural components with the electroless plating solution. Thus, the electrochemical corrosion potential of the structural components is reduced regardless of whether hydrogen is injected into the reactor water.

Abstract: Surfaces of the structural components of a nuclear power plant exposed to reactor water are wetted with an electroless plating solution containing an electrical insulating substance. The electrical insulating substance has a high resistivity about 105 (100000) times those of the structural components of the nuclear power plant or above. A metal film containing the electrical insulating substance is formed on the surfaces of the structural components exposed to the reactor water by wetting the surfaces of the structural components with the electroless plating solution. Thus, the electrochemical corrosion potential of the structural components is reduced regardless of whether hydrogen is injected into the reactor water.