Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid polymer electrolyte wherein protons of cation exchange groups contained in a perfluorinated electrolyte are partially replaced by metal ions. The metal ion is at least one metal ion selected from vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), iron (Fe), ruthenium (Ru), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag), cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), samarium (Sm), cobalt (Co), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), and erbium (Er) ions. Further disclosed is a solid polymer fuel cell using the solid polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: To improve oxidation resistance of an electrolyte membrane and durability thereof by a low-cost method, thereby improving durability of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. According to the present invention, in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and electrodes bonded to both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane, phosphate containing at least one metallic element selected from a rare earth element, Ti, Fe, Al and Bi is fixed to at least one of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrodes.

Abstract: A Polymer Electrolyte Membrane is formed by hot air drying of a membrane formed with an acidic main-polymer having proton conductivity and capability of forming an electrolyte membrane (S12), and then immersing it into a basic polymer solution to impregnate the membrane with the basic polymer (S14). The basic polymer is introduced in a large quantity into a site acting as a proton conduction pass of the main-polymer to take charge of the proton conduction. Since in the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, a base polymer takes charge of proton conduction as compared with the case where proton takes charge of the proton conduction as a hydrate, the base polymer shows favorable proton conductivity even in a low humidity state at an elevated temperature exceeding boiling point of water.

Abstract: A fuel-cell electrode and a method of manufacturing the fuel-cell electrode achieves a high catalyst utilization ratio and makes it possible to obtain higher output characteristics with a smaller amount of catalyst. The fuel-cell electrode includes a catalytic layer composed of an ion conductive substance, an electron conductive substance and catalytic activation substances. The catalytic activation substances are electrolytically deposited on the electron conductive substance.

Abstract: The present invention is a grafted polymer electrolyte membrane prepared by first preparing a precursor membrane comprising a polymer which is capable of being graft polymerized, exposing the surface of the precursor membrane to a plasma in an oxidative atmosphere, then graft-polymerizing a side chain polymer to the plasma treated precursor membrane and introducing a proton conductive functional group to the side chain. The resulting grafted polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent stability and performance when used in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell or for electrolysis of water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane electrode assembly obtained by bonding electrodes to both surfaces of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane suitably for use in a solid polymer fuel cell. In order to maintain not only the solid polymer electrolyte but also the electrode in appropriate wet states, the catalyst layer of the assembly contains a metalloxane polymer in the intra-catalyst-layer electrolyte including an electrode catalyst preferably in an amount of 0.5 to 50 wt % of the total weight of the intra-catalyst-layer electrolyte and the metalloxane polymer contained therein exclusive of the electrode catalyst.

Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly 1 has an anode 10, a cathode 20, and an electrolyte membrane 30 disposed between the anode and cathode; the anode and cathode are gas diffusion electrodes; the electrolyte membrane contains a solid electrolyte in which a plurality of pores with mean pore diameters of 1 to 30 nm are formed; and the solid electrolyte has a backbone comprising organic groups having one or more metal atoms, oxygen atoms bonded to the metal atoms, and carbon atoms bonded to the metal atoms or oxygen atoms, and also has functional groups with ion-exchange capabilities that are bonded to the organic groups in the pores.

Abstract: In solid polymer electrolyte having high-durability, comprising a polymer electrolyte material having a hydrocarbon part, a chelate group and an electrolyte group are introduced into the polymer electrolyte material. The chelate group contains a phosphonic acid group, nitrogen, both of nitrogen and a phosphonic acid group (one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylamino monophosphonic acid groups, alkylamino diphosphonic acid groups, dialkylamino monophosphonic acid groups, alkylalkylene diamine triphosphonic acid groups, and alkylimino phosphonic acid groups) or, both of nitrogen and a carboxylic acid group (one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylamino monocarboxylic acid groups, alkylamino dicarboxylic acid groups, dialkylamino monocarboxylic acid groups, alkylalkylene diamine tricarboxylic acid groups, and alkylimino carboxylic acid groups).

Abstract: A Polymer Electrolyte Membrane is formed by hot air drying of a membrane formed with an acidic main-polymer having proton conductivity and capability of forming an electrolyte membrane (S12), and then immersing it into a basic polymer solution to polymer (S14). The basic polymer is introduced in a large quantity into a site acting as a proton conduction pass of the main-polymer to take charge of the proton conduction. Since in the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, a base polymer takes charge of proton conduction as compared with the case where proton takes charge of the proton conduction as a hydrate, the base polymer shows favorable proton conductivity even in a low humidity state at an elevated temperature exceeding boiling point of water.

Abstract: A fuel-cell electrode and a method of manufacturing the fuel-cell electrode achieves a high catalyst utilization ratio and makes it possible to obtain higher output characteristics with a smaller amount of catalyst. The fuel-cell electrode includes a catalytic layer composed of an ion conductive substance, an electron conductive substance and catalytic activation substances. The catalytic activation substances are electrolytically deposited on the electron conductive substance.

Abstract: A first process for producing a modified electrolyte consistent with the present invention comprises an amine treatment step of contacting a solid polymer electrolyte or a precursor thereof with an amine compound. Further, a first modified electrolyte consistent with the present invention consists essentially of what is obtained in such a process. A second process for producing the modified electrolyte consistent with the present invention includes a step of introducing, to a solid polymer compound having a functional group A, a first modifying agent comprising at least one functional group B capable of reacting with the functional group A thereby forming a first intermediate acid group; and the step also includes reacting the functional group A and the functional group B.

Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane electrode assembly obtained by bonding electrodes to both surfaces of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane suitably for use in a solid polymer fuel cell. In order to maintain not only the solid polymer electrolyte but also the electrode in appropriate wet states, the catalyst layer of the assembly contains a metalloxane polymer in the intra-catalyst-layer electrolyte including an electrode catalyst preferably in an amount of 0.5 to 50 wt % of the total weight of the intra-catalyst-layer electrolyte and the metalloxane polymer contained therein exclusive of the electrode catalyst. It is also preferred that a metalloxane polymer be included in the solid polymer electrolyte membrane in an amount of 0.5 to 50 wt % of the total weight of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the metalloxane polymer contained therein.

Abstract: In solid polymer electrolyte having high-durability, comprising a polymer electrolyte material having a hydrocarbon part, a chelate group and an electrolyte group are introduced into the polymer electrolyte material. The chelate group contains a phosphonic acid group, nitrogen, both of nitrogen and a phosphonic acid group (one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylamino monophosphonic acid groups, alkylamino diphosphonic acid groups, dialkylamino monophosphonic acid groups, alkylalkylene diamine triphosphonic acid groups, and alkylimino phosphonic acid groups) or, both of nitrogen and a carboxylic acid group (one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylamino monocarboxylic acid groups, alkylamino dicarboxylic acid groups, dialkylamino monocarboxylic acid groups, alkylalkylene diamine tricarboxylic acid groups, and alkylimino carboxylic acid groups).

Abstract: The present invention is a grafted polymer electrolyte membrane prepared by first preparing a precursor membrane comprising a polymer which is capable of being graft polymerized, exposing the surface of the precursor membrane to a plasma in an oxidative atmosphere, then graft-polymerizing a side chain polymer to the plasma treated precursor membrane and introducing a proton conductive functional group to the side chain. The resulting grafted polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent stability and performance when used in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell or for electrolysis of water.