Sony Corporation

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Dexerials Corporation

Go Sudo

Kenji Katori

Hayato Hommura

Keisuke Shimizu

Masahiko Tahara

Tatsuya Furuya

Akio Kayanuma

Masamitsu Suzuki

Hiroshi Matsuki

Koichi Tanaka

Yasuhiro Watanabe

Daisuke Ito

Nobuyuki Nagai

Kiyoshi Yamaura

Hideyuki Kumita

Sae Miyaji

Kenji Kishimoto

Keiko Furukawa

Yasushi Tamura

Tsuyoshi Kanai

Harumi Shibata

Yumiko Yoshida

A negative electrode active material includes a matrix including at least a first element selected from the group consisting of silicon, tin, and germanium, at least a second element selected from the group consisting of copper, boron, phosphorous, aluminum, gallium, arsenic, antimony, lithium, and sodium, and oxygen. The second element bonds with oxygen; and a cluster includes the first element and is dispersed in the matrix.

Negative electrode active material, production method of same, thin-film electrode, battery, battery pack, electronic device, electric vehicle, power storage device, and power system

A lithium ion conductor includes a first lithium ion conductor that contains at least one selected from among oxide crystals and glass ceramics, and a second lithium ion conductor that has a sintering temperature of not more than 600&#xb0; C. The lithium ion conductivity of the first lithium ion conductor is higher than the lithium ion conductivity of the second lithium ion conductor.

Lithium ion conductor, solid electrolyte layer, electrode, battery, and electronic device

A glass-ceramic includes an oxide containing lithium (Li), silicon (Si), and boron (B) and has an X-ray diffraction spectrum with two or more peaks appearing in the range 20&#xb0;&#x2264;2&#x3b8;&#x2264;25&#xb0; and with two or more peaks appearing in the range 25&#xb0;&#x3c;2&#x3b8;&#x2264;30&#xb0;.

Glass-ceramic, lithium ion conductor, battery, electronic device, and method for producing electrode

A composite particulate preparing apparatus is provided that includes a rotating body receiving particulates to which an adhering material is allowed to adhere and having a bottom surface, a side wall and a flange part; a centrifugal machine rotating the rotating machine to apply centrifugal force to the particulates in the rotating body; an inclination varying device shifting the rotating body at an arbitrary inclination angle so that the bottom surface of the rotating body forms a vertical plane parallel to a gravitational direction from a horizontal plane perpendicular to the gravitational direction; and a stirring device disposed closer to a horizontal line perpendicular to a vertical line drawn from a rotational center of the rotating body in a gravitational direction on a rotational side where the particulates drop from an uppermost point, than to the vertical line.

Composite particulate preparing apparatus and method

A method of preparing composite materials by (a) containing particulates to which an adhering material is to be made to adhere, in a rotary body having a bottom surface and a side wall; (b) rotating the rotary body so as to apply centrifugal forces to the particulates in the rotary body; and (c) varying the inclination of the rotary body to an arbitrary inclination angle in the range from an angle at which the bottom surface of the rotary body forms a horizontal surface perpendicular to the direction of gravity to an angle at which the bottom surface forms a vertical surface parallel to the direction of gravity, and supporting the rotary body at the arbitrary inclination angle.

Apparatus and method for preparing composite particulates

A sputtering composite target includes: an oxide based component containing indium oxide; and a carbon based component.

Sputtering composite target, method for manufacuturing transparent conductive film using the same and transparent conductive film-provided base material

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for preparing composite particulates, including a rotary body having a bottom surface and a side wall and operative to contain particulates to which an adhering material is to be made to adhere; a centrifugal machine for rotating the rotary body so as to apply centrifugal forces to the particulates in the rotary body; and an inclination varying device operative to vary the inclination of the rotary body to an arbitrary inclination angle in the range from an angle at which the bottom surface of the rotary body forms a horizontal surface perpendicular to the direction of gravity to an angle at which the bottom surface forms a vertical surface parallel to the direction of gravity, and operative to support the rotary body at the arbitrary inclination angle.

Apparatus and method for preparing composite particulates using vapor deposition

A method of operating a fuel cell power generator, and a fuel cell power generator to be operated by the method, which method enables feeding of a diluted fuel having an optimum concentration to a power generation unit even without measuring an absolute concentration typically using a sensor are provided. Specifically, how an output voltage of the power generation unit varies depending on a flow rate of a diluted fuel is monitored. Thus, the diluted fuel may be adjusted to have an optimum concentration always, even without measuring an absolute concentration typically using a sensor. According to this operation method, output characteristics and electrical efficiencies can be maximized according to a load and conditions of a fuel cell power generator.

Methods of operating fuel cell power generators, and fuel cell power generators

In a cell stack of fuel cells according to the present invention, an output power density is measured at each of an upstream-side electricity generating section, which is located at an upstream-side of flow of fuel, and a downstream-side electricity generating section located at a downstream-side thereof. If the voltage at the upstream-side is higher than that at the downstream-side, a control operation to increase the concentration of fuel is performed. Conversely, if the voltage at the upstream-side is lower, a control operation to decrease the concentration of fuel is performed. Control directed to fuel concentration maximizing electricity generating efficiency may be implemented by repeatedly performing such control operations. There is no necessity for providing a concentration sensor in each of the generating sections. Consequently, simplification of configuration of and reduction in the size of the fuel cell may be achieved.

Fuel cell and method for operating the same

The present invention provides a system in which a fuel cell can be operated using a fuel having a constantly optimum concentration and the time taken to start the fuel cell is shortened. A low-concentration fuel for performing a power generation reaction and a high-concentration fuel for performing the power generation reaction and a reaction for raising the temperature of a power generation cell are stored respectively in separate storage vessels. The fuel supplied to a negative electrode can be instantaneously changed over according to the temperature of the power generation cell. This makes it possible to perform an operation at a constantly optimum fuel concentration. By having the capability to raise the power generation cell temperature in a short time, it is possible to reduce the capacity of an auxiliary battery used when power generation cell temperature is low, and to reduce the fuel cell system in size.

Fuel cell system and fuel cell starting method

An actuator is provided. The actuator includes a pair of electrode layers, and an ionically conductive polymer layer arranged between the pair of electrode layers. The ionically conductive polymer layer is configured to bend or deform as a result of the application of a voltage between the pair of electrode layers. The electrode layers each include carbon particles and an ionically conductive resin, and the ionically conductive resin binds the carbon particles with each other.

Actuator

Catalytic electrodes, and their production process, as well as electrochemical devices and their fabrication process are provided. The catalytic electrode includes a catalyst layer, which contains an electrolyte composed of a solid polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene and also contains catalyst particles such as Pt. The solid polymer electrolyte has a crosslinked structure. The catalytic electrode is produced by forming the catalyst layer with the solid polymer and catalyst contained therein, and exposing the catalyst layer to radiation to crosslink the solid polymer and to bond side chains to the solid polymer, and further to introduce into the side chains ion dissociative groups.

Catalytic electrodes and production process thereof, and electrochemical devices and fabrication process thereof

Fuel cell apparatus and method for feeding a fuel for fuel cell. Optimal power generation for the output demanded by a fuel cell can be achieved. A fuel mixer can adjust the methanol concentration of a mixed solution, and it adjusts the concentration of the mixed solution to an optimal methanol concentration for a load. Information on the methanol concentration detected by a concentration sensor is sent to a controller and referred to when the fuel mixer adjusts the methanol concentration of the mixed solution. The concentration sensorprovided immediately before the fuel cell can achieve power generation while detecting the substantial methanol concentration of the mixed solution fed to the fuel cell.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Go Sudo