Abstract: It is an assignment to provide a fuel cell whose battery performance is high, whose gas sealing performance of fuel gas and oxidizing-agent gas can be improved by means of an opposite-end construction of a single cell 1 for fuel cell, and which can inhibit the decline of OCV. The tube-type single cell 1 according to the present invention for fuel cell is characterized in that, in a tube-type single cell 1 for fuel cell, the tube-type single cell 1 being formed by putting an inside electricity collector 11, a first catalytic electrode layer 12, an electrolytic layer 13, a second catalytic electrode layer 14 and an outside electricity collector 15 coaxially in a lamination in this order from an axial center, at least the electrolytic layer 13 protrudes beyond the second catalytic electrode layer 14 and the outside electricity collector 15 in at least one of opposite ends of the single cell 1; and an outer peripheral surface 132 of the electrolytic layer 13 being protruded is exposed.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has superior power generation characteristics under low humidity conditions and superior starting characteristics under low temperature conditions. In the membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is disposed between a pair of electrodes containing a catalyst, the polymer electrolyte membrane has a polymer segment A having an ion conductive component and a polymer segment B not having an ion conductive component. Furthermore, in the case in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is immersed in water at 90° C. for 30 minutes, absorbed water which exhibits a thawing temperature of from ?30 to 0° C. is in a range from 0.01 to 3.0 g per 1 g of the polymer.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has superior power generation characteristics under low humidity conditions and superior starting characteristics under low temperature conditions. In the membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is disposed between a pair of electrodes containing a catalyst, the polymer electrolyte membrane has a polymer segment A having an ion conductive component and a polymer segment B not having an ion conductive component. Furthermore, in the case in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is immersed in water at 90° C. for 30 minutes, absorbed water which exhibits a thawing temperature of from ?30 to 0° C. is in a range from 0.01 to 3.0 g per 1 g of the polymer.

Abstract: A tubular fuel cell comprises a cylindrical internal electrode having electrical conductivity, a lamination of a first catalytic layer, an electrolytic layer, and a second catalytic layer laminated in that order on an outer circumferential surface of the internal electrode, and an electrically conductive exterior coil wound around an outer circumferential surface of the second catalytic layer. The tubular fuel cell further comprises an electrically conductive spacer which has an outside diameter greater than that of the exterior coil.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a carbon nanowall (CNW) structure having improved corrosion resistance against high potential by varying the spacing between the carbon nanowall (CNW) walls so that its surface area and crystallinity are controlled. Also provided is a carbon nanowall (CNW) with a high surface arca and a carbon nanowall (CNW) with a high crystallinity, both of which have a controlled structure. According to the present invention, provided are: (1) a carbon nanowall, characterized by having a wall surface area of 50 cm2/cm2-substrate·?m or more; (2) a carbon nanowall, characterized by having a crystallinity such that the D band half value width in the Raman spectrum measured with an irradiation laser wavelength of 514.5 nm is 85 cm?1 or less: and (3) a carbon nanowall, characterized by having not only a wall surface area of 50 cm2/cm2-substrate·?m or more but also a crystallinity such that the D-band half value width in the Raman spectrum measured with an irradiation laser wavelength of 14.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane-electrolyte assembly by a solution three-layer coating method enables the manufacture of a membrane-electrolyte assembly having a high generation efficiency in which the seeping of the electrolyte solution into the pores in the catalyst layer is prevented. The method comprises performing the application of individual inks and drying treatment for a first catalyst layer 10, an electrolyte layer 20, and a second catalyst layer 30 in order to manufacture a membrane-electrolyte assembly 40. A pore-forming agent 5 is added in the ink for the first catalyst layer 10, the agent consisting of a substance that remains at temperature at which the first catalyst layer 10 is subjected to drying treatment and that dissolves or sublimates and disappears at temperature at which the electrolyte membrane 20 is subjected to drying treatment. The ink for the electrolyte layer 20 is applied to the first catalyst layer 10.

Abstract: A tube-shaped solid polymer fuel cell is provided with communicating fuel gas channels 2 on the periphery of a bar-shaped current collector 1 and along the axis of the bar-shaped current collector 1 and the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) 6 on the outside of the bar-shaped current collector 1 and the fuel gas channels 2 and has a structure in which a fuel gas flows through the fuel gas channels 2 and an oxide gas flows outside the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) 6, wherein some or all of the fuel gas channels 2 are filled with a porous material having communication pores along the axis thereof and a conductive particulate having resistance to corrosion is mixed in with the porous material. The tube-shaped solid polymer fuel cell of the present invention makes it possible to improve gas flowability at the time of production of catalyst layers while avoiding infiltration of the gas channels by a catalyst ink so as to block the channels and thus lower cell resistance at the time of fuel cell operation.

Abstract: A tubular fuel cell includes an inner current collector, a membrane-electrode assembly, and seal portions provided at the axial end portions of the membrane-electrode assembly, respectively. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an inner catalyst layer provided on the inner current collector, an electrolyte membrane provided on the inner catalyst layer, and an outer catalyst layer provided on the electrolyte membrane. The axial length of the outer catalyst layer is shorter than the axial lengths of the electrolyte membrane and the outer catalyst layer. The axial end face of the outer catalyst layer and the axial end face of the inner catalyst layer are located on the opposite sides of the seal portion in each side of the tubular fuel cell.

Abstract: There is provided a tubular fuel cell in which a catalyst ink does not penetrate into a gas flow channel at the time of preparing a catalyst layer, and hence does not block the flow channel and thereby improves the electric power generation performance as well as the gals flow property, and there is also provided a production method of the tubular fuel cell.

Abstract: A production apparatus for a tubular fuel cell, including a first extruder that supplies a first catalyst layer material to the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrically shaped inner electrode that exhibits conductivity, thereby forming a first catalyst layer, a second extruder that supplies an electrolyte layer material to the outer peripheral surface of the first catalyst layer, thereby forming an electrolyte layer, and a third extruder that supplies a second catalyst layer material to the outer peripheral surface of the electrolyte layer, thereby forming a second catalyst layer, wherein by conducting supply of the first catalyst layer material, the electrolyte layer material and the second catalyst layer material in an intermittent manner, at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner electrode is left exposed.

Abstract: A fuel cell module that includes: a plurality of tubular fuel cells, each of which contains a cylindrically shaped inner electrode that exhibits conductivity, a first catalyst layer, an electrolyte layer, and a second catalyst layer laminated sequentially to the outer peripheral surface of the inner electrode, and an external coil that exhibits conductivity and is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the second catalyst layer in such a manner that a first coil section with a loose winding pitch is sandwiched between second coil sections with a tight winding pitch; and a current collecting member that exhibits conductivity and is provided with a plurality of openings into which the tubular fuel cells can be inserted, wherein the first coil sections and the openings fit together.

Abstract: The invention provides a manufacturing process for MEA that enables sufficient bond strength among an electrolyte membrane and electrode substrates even when the electrolyte membrane comprises a heat-resistant material such as an aromatic polymer. The process comprises pressure bonding an electrolyte membrane with catalyzed electrode substrates to form a membrane-electrode assembly, wherein a good solvent for the electrolyte membrane is applied to at least one of facing surfaces of the opposed electrode substrate and the electrolyte membrane prior to the pressure bonding. The electrolyte membrane may comprise a sulfonated aromatic polymer. The good solvent for the electrolyte membrane may be an aprotic dipolar solvent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cylindrical fuel cell having a first catalyst layer, an electrolyte layer and a second catalyst layer, comprising forming the first catalyst layer on the outer surface of a cylindrical support by a spraying method, forming the electrolyte layer on the first catalyst layer by a spraying method, and forming the second catalyst layer on the electrolyte layer by a spraying method, wherein each of the forming is conducted in a continuous manner. An apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode structure having an electrode catalyst layer adhered to a diffusion electrode, wherein the structure is manufactured by applying a catalyst paste onto a sheet substrate, and then dried to form a plurality of electrode catalyst layers. The electrode catalyst layers are thermally transferred onto each side of a polymer electrolyte membrane to form a laminated body. A first slurry is applied on a carbon substrate layer, and dried to form a water-repellent layer, and then, a second slurry is applied on the water-repellent layer, and dried to form a hydrophilic layer to form a diffusion electrode. The diffusion electrode is then laminated on the electrode catalyst layer through the hydrophilic layer, and then pressed under heating to integrate the laminated body and the diffusion electrode.

Abstract: There is provided an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent power generation performance and excellent durability and a method for manufacturing the same. Also provided is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the electrode structure and an electrical apparatus and a transport apparatus using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 containing carbon particles supporting catalyst particles. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is made of a sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer has an ion exchange capacity in the range of 1.7 to 2.3 meq/g, and the polymer contains a component insoluble in N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount of 70% or less relative to the total amount of the polymer, after the polymer is subjected to heat treatment for exposing it under a constant temperature atmosphere of 12° C. for 200 hours.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has superior power generation characteristics under low humidity conditions and superior starting characteristics under low temperature conditions. In the membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is disposed between a pair of electrodes containing a catalyst, the polymer electrolyte membrane has a polymer segment A having an ion conductive component and a polymer segment B not having an ion conductive component. Furthermore, in the case in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is immersed in water at 90° C. for 30 minutes, absorbed water which exhibits a thawing temperature of from ?30 to 0° C. is in a range from 0.01 to 3.0 g per 1 g of the polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides a manufacturing process for MEA that enables sufficient bond strength among an electrolyte membrane and electrode substrates even when the electrolyte membrane comprises a heat-resistant material such as an aromatic polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode paste composition that enables a sufficient pore volume of electrode for high generating performance while maintaining good storage stability. The paste composition comprises a carbon black supporting a hydrogen reduction catalyst, an electrolyte, an organic solvent having a boiling point of 100 to 200° C., a water-soluble organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 100° C., and optionally one or more components selected from a dispersant, a carbon fiber and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a membrane-electrode structure having an excellent adhesiveness between an electrode catalyst layer and a diffusion electrode, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a membrane-electrode structure obtained by the production method. Moreover, it also provides an electrical apparatus and a transport machine that use the above polymer electrolyte fuel cell. A catalyst past comprising a catalyst supported by an electron conducting material and an ion conducting material is applied on a sheet substrate 2, and it is then dried, so as to form electrode catalyst layers 3, 3. The electrode catalyst layers are thermally transferred onto each side of a polymer electrolyte membrane 1, so as to form a laminated body 4.

Abstract: There is provided an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent power generation performance and excellent durability and a method for manufacturing the same. Also provided is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the electrode structure and an electrical apparatus and a transport apparatus using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 containing carbon particles supporting catalyst particles. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is made of a sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer has an ion exchange capacity in the range of 1.7 to 2.3 meq/g, and the polymer contains a component insoluble in N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount of 70% or less relative to the total amount of the polymer, after the polymer is subjected to heat treatment for exposing it under a constant temperature atmosphere of 120° C. for 200 hours.