摘要:
Methods are provided for easily obtaining a high performance electrode without using an organic solvent for making an ink of an electrode catalyst or a surfactant for making an ink of a water repellent carbon material. The methods of manufacturing an electrode for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprise (a) a step of adhering a polymer electrolyte or a water repellent material to fine electrically conductive particles, and granulating the electrically conductive particles to obtain multinary granules, and (b) a step of depositing the multinary granules in layer form to obtain a catalyst layer or a water repellent layer of an electrode. Apparatus for manufacturing the electrodes, as well as polymer electrolyte fuel cells using the electrodes are also provided.
摘要:
It has been difficult to keep the voltage of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stable for a long period of time because uniform water content control over the plane of the membrane-electrode assembly is impossible. A gas diffusion electrode is produced by forming a conductive polymer layer composed of conductive particles and a polymer material on a porous material composed of carbon fiber, and forming a catalyst layer composed of platinum-carried carbon particles on the plane of the conductive polymer layer. The conductive polymer layer is composed of conductive particles different in particle size, and the content of the conductive particles having the smaller particle size is decreased from one end towards the other end of the gas diffusion electrode.
摘要:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided comprising: a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; a cathode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode; characterized in that the anode and the cathode comprise a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer formed on the gas diffusion layer at the side in contact with the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer has catalyst particles and a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte, and at least either of hydrogen ion conductivity and gas permeability of at least either of the anode and the cathode varies in a thickness direction of the anode or the cathode.
摘要:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack that includes a cell laminate having a plurality of unit cells, which are laid one upon another and each of which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes arranged across the polymer electrolyte membrane and having respective catalytic reaction layers, a separator having means for feeding a supply of fuel gas containing hydrogen gas to one of the electrodes, another separator having means for feeding a supply of oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, and a manifold for feeding the supply of fuel gas or the supply of oxidant gas to the respective electrode and disposed on a side face of each unit cell. In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, a sealing portion is disposed at least in the vicinity of each electrode. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack has excellent durability and productivity. Gasket sealing portions, a sealing portion for cooling water, and sealing portions for water and gas in an internal humidifying unit are composed of a polymer compound that has polyisobutylene as the backbone structure. This arrangement ensures high reliability.
摘要:
The specification discloses a fuel cell comprising stacked unit cells, each of the unit cells including a pair of electrodes having a catalytic reaction layer and a gas diffusion layer, an electrolyte layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, a separator having a flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one electrode and a separator having a flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other electrode, the separators being placed on the outer side of the electrodes and the unit cells being stacked with the separators placed therebetween, wherein at least the catalytic reaction layer, the gas diffusion layer or the flow path has water-repelling properties. Thereby, a fuel cell having a superior cell performance is obtained.
摘要:
The invention provides a fuel cell system that is free from troubles due to contaminant ions by controlling the concentration of contaminant ions in cooling water. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack and a means for controlling the cell temperature by circulating a liquid coolant in the fuel cell stack or bringing it in contact with the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of unit cells that are laid one upon another, each of the unit cells comprising a hydrogen ion-conductive electrolyte membrane, a pair of gas diffusion electrodes which sandwich the electrolyte membrane, an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one of the electrodes, and a cathode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, wherein a material adsorbing or absorbing ions is provided on a portion of the fuel cell system to come in contact with the liquid coolant.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a thermoelectric material containing CoSb.sub.3 compound for converting heat to electricity, and provides a p-type thermoelectric material of CoSb.sub.3 having a high power factor by achieving high Seebeck coefficient consistently with high electric conductivity in a material of CoSb.sub.3 system without causing increase in heat conductivity. By sintering Co.sub.0.07 Pt.sub.0.03 Sb.sub.3 alloy powder using the spark plasma sintering technique, the material is densified, while growth of grains is restricted, so that a higher electric conductivity is achieved with a heat conductivity maintained in a low level, and the figure of merit as a heat-transfer material is improved. Also, by providing such heat insulating layer as an oxide intermediately in a grain boundary of a compound of CoSb.sub.3 in a sintered body, the heat conductivity is reduced. Further, the Seebeck coefficient is increased by adding a rare earth metal to the thermoelectric material of CoSb.sub.3, and allowing it to be precipitated in grain boundaries of the sintered body.
摘要:
In a fine structure of a thermoelectric material, fine particles of a material exhibiting Seebeck effect are electrically linked in a loosely contacted state with one another without fusing, having spaces formed at clearances among the fine particles. A method of manufacturing the thermoelectric material comprises a step of compacting fine particles made of a material exhibiting Seebeck effect through a cold pressing. Also, disclosed is a sensor for quantitatively sensing a substance, which comprises a pellet of a powder thermoelectric material, where a temperature difference is generated between two points inside the piece of thermoelectric material. The sensor further includes thermocouples connected to a heater plate (6) and a cooling plate, and a controller which is electrically connected in the loop circuit of the thermocouples for detecting thermoelectric current corresponding to the temperature difference, thereby to control the heating of the heater plate.
摘要:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. A plurality of projections each having a height of 5 to 15 μm or a plurality of depressions each having a depth of 5 to 15 μm are formed on a surface of the electrolyte membrane, the surface being opposed to the cathode. The cathode is constituted by a catalyst layer formed to tightly contact the surface of the electrolyte membrane and having a maximum thickness that is one to three times the height of the projection or the depth of the depression. An oxygen-containing gas having a relative humidity of 10% or less is supplied to the cathode, and electric power is generated by using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
摘要:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. A plurality of projections each having a height of 5 to 15 μm or a plurality of depressions each having a depth of 5 to 15 μm are formed on a surface of the electrolyte membrane, the surface being opposed to the cathode. The cathode is constituted by a catalyst layer formed to tightly contact the surface of the electrolyte membrane and having a maximum thickness that is one to three times the height of the projection or the depth of the depression. An oxygen-containing gas having a relative humidity of 10% or less is supplied to the cathode, and electric power is generated by using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.