Nissan Motor Company Limited

Yokohama National University

National University Corporation Yokohama National University

Toshihiro Takekawa

Hirofumi Nakamoto

Atsushi Miyazawa

Masayoshi Watanabe

Tomokazu Yamane

Hiroshi Ogawa

Yasuyuki Itou

Hidenobu Shiroishi

A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell stack () composed by stacking a plurality of single cells, each single cell having: a membrane electrode assembly in which electrode catalyst layers () and gas diffusion layers () are disposed on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane () formed of a gel electrolyte with a sol-gel phase transition temperature; and separators () disposed on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly; and a temperature adjusting apparatus () which adjusts a temperature of the electrolyte membrane in the single cell. In such a way, a defect such as a pinhole that has occurred in the electrolyte membrane () can be solved.

Fuel cell system and method of repairing electrolyte membrane thereof

An electrochemical cell includes an electrolyte membrane containing an ionic conductor. The ionic conductor includes:

Electrochemical cell and fuel cell using an ionic conductor

An electrocatalyst for an electrochemical cell of the present invention includes a metal catalyst containing metal that has a metal oxidation potential of 0.5V or higher to 1.5V or lower, and is directly involved in an electrode reaction. Further, the electrocatalyst includes an aromatic heterocyclic compound having a six-membered cyclic structure containing a heteroatom, wherein the heteroatom has a metal coordination capacity that is not directly involved in the electrode reaction. The aromatic heterocyclic compound is heterogeneously adsorbed and coordinated on a surface of the metal catalyst while interposing the heteroatom therebetween.

Electrocatalyst for electrochemical cell, method for producing the electrocatalyst, electrochemical cell, single cell of fuel cell, and fuel cell

Electrochemical cell using an ionic conductor

A fuel cell stack constituted by fastening a laminated cell, is disclosed. The electrode of the cell has a catalyst electrode layer and a porous gas diffusion layer and supporting a polymer electrolyte membrane () from both sides. A separator () of the cell has a gas passage () which supplies fuel gas or oxidizer gas to the gas diffusion layer. The gas diffusion layer () is constituted such that when a load is applied and removed in the lamination direction of the cell, an amount of change in a thickness of the gas diffusion layer in a non-loaded state before and after the load is applied falls to or below a predetermined value. The gas diffusion layer () is manufactured by repeating a cycle of applying and removing a load on the gas diffusion layer in the lamination direction of the cell before laminating the cell. The cycle is repeated until an amount of change in a thickness of the gas diffusion layer in a non-loaded state before and after the load is applied falls to or below a predetermined value. The gas diffusion layer () is prevented from swelling into the gas passage.

Fuel cell stack and manufacturing method thereof

A separator () for a fuel cell () is provided which allows effective use of heat generated in proximity to an electrolytic membrane () in order to melt frozen water in the gas diffusion electrodes () of the fuel cell (). The separator () is provided with a plurality of projections () between which a gas flow passage () on the surface of the separator () is formed and which make contact with the gas diffusion electrodes (). The coefficient of thermal conductivity of the projection () is smaller than the coefficient of thermal conductivity of other sections of the separator ().

Separator for fuel cell and method of manufacture therefor

When a fuel cell system is to be stopped, a controllerdecreases the coolant flowrate to a fuel cell, decreases the cooling performance of the fuel celland continues operation of the fuel cell, and performs a temperature rise operation wherein the temperature of the fuel cellis increased using the heat generated by the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell. After the temperature of the fuel cellhas reached a predetermined high temperature, the operation of the fuel cellis stopped.

Fuel cell system and method of stopping the system

A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply line supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, an oxidizing gas supply line supplying oxidizing gas to the fuel cell, a circulation line circulating fluid through at least one of the fuel cell, the fuel gas supply line and the oxidizing gas supply line, and a microorganism inhibiting unit located in the circulation line to execute sterilization so as to sterilize microorganisms present in the fluid. The microorganism inhibiting method is utilized in the fuel cell system of such a structure to sterilize the microorganisms present in the fluid in the midway of the circulation line.

Growing community of inventors

Yokosuka, Japan

Toshihiro Takekawa