Abstract: Anode-supported fuel cell, in particular SOFC, where stresses in the anode substrate are compensated for by a stress compensation layer. According to the invention said stress compensation layer is made porous by making a large number of vary small openings. These openings are preferably made hexagonal and the thickness of the walls between the openings is minor. An electron-conducting porous layer is applied to the stress compensation layer.

Abstract: In a structure of mounting an electronic device into a housing according to the present invention, the electronic device has the following structure. First and second storage devices are connected to respective connecting parts provided on a substrate. Convex portions provided on a first supporting member are fitted from above into a gap between the first storage device and the substrate and a gap between the second storage device and the substrate, respectively. Convex portions provided on a second supporting member are fitted from below into the gap between the first storage device and the substrate and the gap between the second storage device and the substrate, respectively. The electronic device into which the first and second supporting members are fitted is inserted into the housing from an opening thereof, and fixed within the housing by the housing and a cover.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a first electrode containing a first phase intermixed with a second phase and a network of interconnected pores. The first phase contains a ceramic material and the second phase contains an electrically conductive material providing an electrically contiguous path through the first electrode. The electrochemical cell further includes a second electrode containing an alkali metal. A substantially non-porous alkali-metal-ion-selective ceramic membrane, such as a dense Nasicon, Lisicon, Li ??-alumina, or Na ??-alumina membrane, is interposed between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A method of making a reconstructed electrode having a plurality of nanostructured thin catalytic layers is provided. The method includes combining a donor decal comprising at least one nanostructured thin catalytic layer on a substrate with an acceptor decal comprising a porous substrate and at least one nanostructured thin catalytic layer. The donor decal and acceptor decal are bonded together using a temporary adhesive, and the donor substrate is removed. The temporary adhesive is then removed with appropriate solvents. Catalyst coated proton exchange membranes and catalyst coated diffusion media made from the reconstructed electrode decals having a plurality of nanostructured thin catalytic layers are also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing metal nanoparticles by mixing a metal precursor with a solvent to prepare a mixed solution, and radiating the mixed solution with an ion beam to reduce the metal precursor and produce the metal nanoparticles. In addition, when metal nanoparticles are prepared by using an ion beam, uniform-sized metal nanoparticles can be mass produced.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell and method for forming a fuel cell is disclosed and which includes, in its broadest aspect, a proton exchange membrane having opposite anode and cathode sides; and individual electrodes juxtaposed relative to each of the anode and cathode sides, and wherein at least one of the electrodes is fabricated, at least in part, of a porous, electrically conductive ceramic material. The present methodology, as disclosed, includes the steps of providing a pair of electrically conductive ceramic substrates, applying a catalyst coating to the inside facing surface thereof; and providing a polymeric proton exchange membrane, and positioning the polymeric proton membrane therebetween, and in ohmic electrical contact relative thereto to form a resulting PEM fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention comprises a cathode and an anode, one or both of the anode and the cathode including a catalyst comprising a bundle of longitudinally aligned graphitic carbon nanotubes including a catalytically active transition metal incorporated longitudinally and atomically distributed throughout the graphitic carbon walls of said nanotubes. The nanotubes also include nitrogen atoms and/or ions chemically bonded to the graphitic carbon and to the transition metal. Preferably, the transition metal comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cr.

Abstract: Disclosed are metallized carbonaceous materials, processes for forming such materials, and electrodes and fuel cells comprising the disclosed materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to freestanding carbon nanotube paper comprising purified carbon nanotubes, where the purified carbon nanotubes form the freestanding carbon nanotube paper and carbon microparticles embedded in and/or present on a surface of the carbon nanotube paper. The invention also relates to a lithium ion battery, capacitor, supercapacitor, battery/capacitor, and fuel cell containing the freestanding carbon nanotube paper as an electrode. Also disclosed is a method of making a freestanding carbon nanotube paper. This method involves providing purified carbon nanotubes, contacting the purified carbon nanotubes with an organic solvent under conditions effective to form a dispersion comprising the purified carbon nanotubes. The dispersion is formed into a carbon nanotube paper and carbon microparticles are incorporated with the purified carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve the problems with conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cells and provide a proton conducting membrane which exhibits an excellent heat resistance and an excellent protonic conductivity and a high dimensional stability even at high temperatures, a method for producing the same and a fuel cell using the same. The proton conducting membrane of the present invention is a proton conducting membrane having particles 1 comprising a metal-oxygen crosslinked structure and the particles 1 have an acid group such as sulfonic acid group incorporated in the surface thereof and form a continuity. The gap 2 between the particles is communicated from the main surface to the opposite surface of the proton conducting membrane to form a proton conducting channel.

Abstract: Separator-electrode assemblies (SEAs) comprising a porous electrode useful as a positive or negative electrode in a lithium battery and a separator layer applied to this electrode, the separator layer being an inorganic separator layer comprising at least two fractions of metal oxide particles different from each other in their average particle size and/or in the metal, and the electrode having active mass particles that are bonded together and to a current collector by an inorganic adhesive; and a process for their production.

Abstract: An anode electrode for use in a fuel cell comprises a stacked structure including, in sequence: a catalyst layer, a hydrophobic, microporous layer (“MPL”), a porous gas diffusion layer (“GDL”), and an anode plate with at least one recessed fuel supply-fuel/gas exhaust channel formed in a surface thereof facing the GDL, wherein the stacked structure further comprises at least one hydrophobic region aligned with the at least one recessed channel. The electrode is useful in direct oxidation fuel cells and systems, such as direct methanol fuel cells operating with highly concentrated liquid fuel.

Abstract: A catalyst member comprising a blended mixture of nano-scale metal particles compressed with larger metal particles and sintered to form a structurally stable member of any desired shape. The catalyst member can be used in one of many different applications; for example, as an electrode in a fuel cell or in an electrolysis device to generate hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: Provided are an electrode to enhance the power generation efficiency in a fuel cell, in particular a single-chamber solid electrolyte fuel cell, and such an electrode. The electrode of the present invention comprises ?Eh, represented by the following formula (1), being not less than ?10 mV and not more than 100 mV. ?Eh=E0?E3??(1) (where E0 denotes an electrode potential when a gas having a hydrogen concentration of 0% (an oxidizing gas only) makes contact with the electrode at room temperature, and E3 denotes an electrode potential when a mixed gas having a hydrogen concentration of 3 volume % (a hydrogen gas and the oxidizing gas) makes contact with the electrode at room temperature.

Abstract: A catalyst carrier, being characterized in that a catalyst metal for promoting an oxidation-reduction reaction is carried on a vapor-grown carbon fiber having an average outer diameter of from 2 nm to 500 nm, which has been subjected to a crushing treatment so as to have a BET specific surface area of from 4 m2/g to 100 m2/g and an aspect ratio of from 1 to 200, and exhibiting high activity per unit amount of a catalyst metal, a low reaction resistance and an improved output density, and is useful for a fuel cell; a production method thereof and a fuel cell using the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect for a solid-oxide fuel cell stack assembly, including a novel sintering paste and an improved manufacturing process for an anode and cathode electrical contacts is disclosed. On the anode side, the paste contains a metallic oxide such as NiO, and an amount of sacrificial pore-forming particles, such as carbon particles or polymer spheres, which are vaporized during sintering of the paste, resulting in a very porous connection having good electrical conductivity and good adhesion. A preferred level of pore-former in the paste is about 40 volume percent. On the cathode side, the paste contains a noble metal such as for example, gold, platinum, palladium or rhodium, and an amount of the sacrificial pore-forming particles. The paste may be applied to the surfaces in a grid pattern or, because the resulting contact is porous after sintering, it may be applied as a continuous layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, including: a non-conductive anode membrane on which a fuel flow channel is formed; a non-conductive cathode membrane on which an air flow channel is formed; a non-conductive separation membrane that is provided between the anode membrane and the cathode membrane to separate them from each other so that the fuel and the air are not mixed; and a metal unit that provides a current moving path allowing charge to be moved from the anode membrane to the cathode membrane via the separation membrane when the anode membrane, the separation membrane and the cathode membrane are stacked sequentially. More specifically, each of the anode membrane, the cathode membrane and the separation membrane is glass, preferably, photosensitive glass.

Abstract: A porous carbonized substrate and its preparation method and uses are provided. The porous carbonized substrate has an oxygen content ranging from about 1 wt % to about 13 wt % and a nitrogen content ranging from about 2 wt % to about 16 wt %, based on the total weight of the substrate. The porous carbonized substrate can be prepared by a method comprising the following steps: providing a fiber substrate containing one or more oxidized fibers, one or more polyamide fibers or a mixture thereof; and thermally treating the fiber substrate under an inert gas atmosphere, wherein the thermally treating step comprises putting the fiber substrate in the inert gas atmosphere and increasing the temperature of the inert gas atmosphere to an elevated temperature ranging from about 700° C. to about 2000° C. with a rate of from about 50° C./minute to about 300° C./minute. The porous carbonized substrate is used as a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell.

Abstract: Provided are: an electrode for a fuel cell, which is obtained by impregnating a supporting base with a vinyl polymer composition and a fuel cell catalyst, the vinyl polymer composition in which a vinyl polymer A having at least one kind of crosslinkable group selected from the group consisting of an epoxy group and an isocyanate group protected by a protecting group and a vinyl polymer B having at least one kind of crosslinkable group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, and an amino group are contained, and at least one of the vinyl polymer A and the vinyl polymer B has an acidic group forming a salt, reacting the crosslinkable group of the vinyl polymer A with the crosslinkable group of the vinyl polymer B, and then subjecting the salt to proton exchange; a method for producing the same; and a fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane and the electrode for a fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface capable of producing surface enhanced Raman scattering of incident light from a complex adsorbed at the surface of the electrode, the complex including the electrically conductive material combined with a second material that is substantially reducible and not substantially oxidizable. The surface of the electrode can be microroughened. The invention also includes a method for making various embodiments of the electrode, and a method of generating electricity using the electrode. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a fuel cell is provided including the electrode of the invention.

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 present invention relates to nanostructured composites comprising a nanotube network which is at least partially embedded within a carbon layer. The present invention particularly relates to conducting nanostructured composites for use in the fields of energy conversion, energy storage and also the biomedical field. The present invention also relates to a process via CVD of carbon onto a catalyst layer on a substrate. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A catalyst for an electro-chemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of a bundle of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes having a catalytically active transition metal incorporated longitudinally in said nanotubes. A method of making an electro-chemical catalyst for an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) having a bundle of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes with a catalytically active transition metal incorporated throughout the nanotubes, where a substrate is in a first reaction zone, and a combination selected from one or more of a hydrocarbon and an organometallic compound containing an catalytically active transition metal and a nitrogen containing compound and an inert gas and a reducing gas is introduced into the first reaction zone which is maintained at a first reaction temperature for a time sufficient to vaporize material therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to carbon nanofiber having a skin-core structure containing pitch and polyacrylonitrile, to a method of producing the carbon nanofiber, and to a product including the carbon nanofiber. The carbon nanofiber includes polyacrylonitrile and pitch having different properties respectively constituting a skin layer and/or a core layer, with a diameter of 1 ?m or less, and thus functions of the carbon nanofiber vary depending on change in composition thereof.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate generally to methods, compositions, articles, and devices associated with layer-by-layer assembly and/or functionalization of carbon-based nanostructures and related structures. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for forming an assembly of carbon-based nanostructures on a surface. The carbon-based nanostructure assembly may exhibit enhanced properties, such as improved arrangement of carbon-based nanostructures (e.g., carbon nanotubes) and/or enhanced electronic and/or ionic conductivity and/or other useful features. In some cases, improved properties may be observed due to the attachment of functional groups to the surfaces of carbon-based nanostructures. Using methods described herein, formation of carbon-based nanostructure assemblies may be controlled to produce structures with enhanced properties.

Abstract: For machine parts, cutting tools and molds used under extremely high contact pressures, an amorphous carbon film is provided which has a sufficient adhesion to a substrate. The amorphous carbon covered member has an interlayer comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements in the IVa, Va, VIa and IIIb groups and the IVb group except carbon in the periodic table, or a carbide of at least one element selected from the group, and an amorphous carbon film formed on the interlayer. The interlayer has a thickness of 0.5 nm or over and less than 10 nm.