Dynax Corporation

Muroran Institute of Technology

Ryuichi Saito

Masao Watanabe

Ximeng Jiang

Hideki Ohnishi

By activating aluminum fine particles obtained by milling aluminum alloy in water, reactivity of the aluminum fine Particles at low temperature is improved. The activation comprises a thermal shock treatment wherein the aluminum fine particles are repeatedly heated and cooled down rapidly, and subsequently these activated aluminum fine particles are stored in a refrigerator. By reaction between the activated aluminum fine particles and water molecules, a large amount of hydrogen gas can be generated at room temperature, therefore hydrogen gas or fuel for a portable-type fuel cells can be produced in large quantities at room temperature in a short period of time.

Method for generating hydrogen gas utilizing activated aluminum fine particles

The object is to provide a method for drying and storing activated aluminum fine particles which can be a hydrogen source for fuel cells for a long term without being deactivated. A thermal shock treatment as an activation of the aluminum fine particles, which repeats rapid heating and cooling, is performed to aluminum fine particles obtained by milling aluminum alloy; moisture contained in the activated aluminum fine particles is filtrated; said aluminum fine particles are pre-frozen; and the aluminum fine particles are freeze-dried and then stored in nitrogen atmosphere or vacuum-packed.

Method for drying and storing activated aluminum fine particles

A method of manufacturing a separator for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the specific resistance is small, and the coefficient of thermal conductivity and the gas shielding property are high and have high strength. The sintering material comprises a phenol resin coated to the surface of a powder of carbon, and the plate is a metallic plate having plating on both surfaces. After the metallic plate is arranged in a mold provided with grooves, the sintering material is filled to both sides of the metallic plate, and then they are heated and sintered. The separator for a fuel cell becomes homogeneous, and, as a result, the gas shielding property rises with high strength, because phenol resin has been uniformly distributed in the sintering material. Moreover, because oxides are not generated on the surfaces of the separator by sintering, the specific resistance will be relatively small.

Growing community of inventors

Chitose, Japan

Ryuichi Saito