Nissan Motor Company Limited

Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Yasuhiro Numao

Shigetaka Uehara

Takayuki Hirao

Kimio Nishimura

Atsushi Miyazawa

Kazuhiro Kageyama

Takanori Oku

Hiroshi Miyaoka

Keisuke Yamamoto

Motoki Yaginuma

Keiji Ichihara

Mitsutaka Abe

Tsutomu Yamazaki

Tomokatsu Himeno

Tooru Kosemura

Hiroshi Okonogi

Tsuyoshi Sugimoto

Yasukazu Iwasaki

Futoshi Shimai

Keigo Ikezoe

Atsushi Ohma

Yoshiko Tsukada

Mori Nagayama

Keita Iritsuki

Michito Kishi

Keiji Okada

Toshikazu Kotaka

Yozo Okuyama

Norikatsu Sekine

Jun Inomata

Toshihiko Tsuda

Aurel Funar

Sigetaka Uehara

Toshihide Asano

Satoru Moriya

[Problems] To easily and efficiently manufacture a catalyst layer having high catalytic activity and to easily manufacture a fuel cell having high power generation efficiency. [Solution] An apparatus for forming a catalyst layerfor a fuel cell on an electrolyte film (application object), the apparatus including: a holding portionthat holds a sheet-shaped electrolyte film, an application portionthat applies a catalyst inkfor forming the catalyst layeron at least one side of the electrolyte filmheld by the holding portion, a chamber portionthat is capable of forming a spaceincluding the holding portion, and a suction portionthat depressurizes the inside of the spaceformed by the chamber portionso as to dry the catalyst ink

Catalyst-layer forming apparatus

An in-line coating device includes: a coating section configured to perform coating on a workpiece; and a transport section configured to transport a plurality of the workpieces in the coating section. The coating section is provided with a plurality of coating materials which are aligned. The transport section transports the workpieces such that the workpieces face the plurality of coating materials. The in-line coating device includes a voltage applying section configured to, when the workpiece is transported and faces each coating material, apply to the workpiece, a bias voltage to attract particles emitted from the coating material toward the workpiece. The bias voltages applied to the workpiece by the voltage applying section when the workpiece faces one of the coating materials can be different from that applied when the workpiece faces another one of the coating material.

In-line coating device, in-line coating method, and separator

A membrane catalyst layer assembly production method is provided for producing a membrane catalyst layer assembly by discharging catalyst ink having a solvent and a solid component onto an electrolyte membrane. The membrane catalyst layer assembly production method includes forming a first catalyst ink layer having a first porosity on the electrolyte membrane by controlling a porosity of a catalyst ink layer that is formed by the catalyst ink making impact with the electrolyte membrane by adjusting an amount of solvent in the catalyst ink in drop form prior to impact with the electrolyte membrane, and forming a second catalyst ink layer having a second porosity, which is different from the first porosity, on the first catalyst ink layer, by adjusting the amount of solvent in the catalyst ink in drop form prior to impact with the first catalyst ink layer.

Membrane catalyst layer assembly production method and membrane catalyst layer assembly production device

A fuel cell stack seal structure of a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell single cells that are stacked, each of the fuel cell single cells including a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators holding the membrane electrode assembly between the pair of separators, includes inner peripheral sealing members and an outer peripheral sealing member at peripheral edges of a pair of separators, in which the inner peripheral sealing members close a gap between inner peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards a mutually facing sides of the pair of separators, and the outer peripheral sealing member that closes a gap between outer peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards the mutually facing sides of the pair of separators. The inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member form a first closed space between the inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member. The outer peripheral sealing member has a notch that communicates the first closed space with the outside.

Fuel cell stack seal structure and production method therefor

A method is provided that modifies a catalyst layer of a membrane catalyst layer assembly, which is manufactured by transferring the catalyst layer formed on a transfer sheet onto an electrolyte membrane. In the catalyst layer correction method, presence or absence of a defect in the catalyst layer is detected. The defect is removed based on the size and position of the detected defect. The portion from which the defect has been removed is repaired by application thereto of a correcting ink corresponding to the catalyst layer.

Method and device for modifying catalyst layer

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of cell modules each formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells, each of the plurality of fuel cells having a membrane electrode assembly having an insulating member at an outer periphery portion thereof and paired separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, and by attaching the insulating members of adjacent fuel cells together, and a seal plate interposed between the stacked cell modules. The seal plate includes a plurality of manifold holes from which two power-generation gases flow separately through the plurality of fuel cells, and a first seal member provided along a peripheral portion of each of the plurality of manifold holes to seal a corresponding one of the two power-generation gases flowing through the manifold hole.

Fuel cell stack and seal plate used for the same

A fuel cell stack includes at least two cell modules adjacent to each other, the at least two cell modules each being formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells into an integrated unit and a seal plate interposed in a cooling flow channel defined between separators of the at least two cell modules, the cooling flow channel configured to allow a cooling fluid to flow therethrough. The seal plate includes a manifold portion in which a plurality of manifold holes are formed to allow two power-generation gases to flow separately through the plurality of manifold holes and through the plurality of fuel cells and a seal member provided along a peripheral portion of each of the plurality of manifold holes to provide sealing for a corresponding one of the two power-generation gases flowing through the manifold hole.

Seal plate and fuel cell stack using the same

A method for manufacturing a separator assembly includes a preparation step for preparing a first separator, a second separator, and an elastic member; a first placement step for positioning the elastic member and placing the same on a placement surface; a second placement step for positioning the first separator in relation to the elastic member, and placing the first separator so as to overlap the elastic member; and a joining step for joining the elastic member and first separator which have been positioned and made to overlap. In the second placement step, the first separator is made to overlap the elastic member while first positioning members for positioning the elastic member are made to retract into the placement surface.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing separator for fuel cell

An air cell includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and an outer frame member located at outer peripheries of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode and the outer frame member are integrally joined together. An assembled battery includes a plurality of air cells, the air cells being stacked on top of each other. This configuration can increase mechanical strength and improve sealing performance for an electrolysis solution in the positive electrode. In addition, a reduction in thickness of the entire air cell can be achieved so that the assembled battery suitable for use in a vehicle can be provided.

Air cell

A cell structure of a fuel cell, including: a membrane electrode assembly M in which an electrolyte membraneis sandwiched between a pair of electrode layersand; a framedisposed around an outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane; a separatorto define a gas channel G between the separatorand the membrane electrode assembly M; a seal memberdisposed at an outer side of the gas channel G; and a gas-permeable metal porous bodydisposed on a surface of the electrode layersand, wherein the metal porous bodyincludes an extensionA at an outer rim that extends outward beyond the electrode layers, the frameincludes an embedding portionwhere the extensionA of the metal porous bodyis embedded, and the cell structure further comprises a holding means to hold the extensionA of the metal porous bodybetween the separatorand the embedding portion

Cell structure of fuel cell

A fuel cell stack is provided that comprises a laminate obtained from unit cells of rectangular plates, end plates disposed at both end surfaces of the laminate, and a pair of reinforcing plates disposed on a first and third outer peripheral surfaces, wherein the respective end plates and reinforcing plates are connected. Each reinforcing plate has a base plate covering that covers the first or third outer peripheral surface of the laminate, and a pair of holding portions that cover the second and fourth outer peripheral surfaces of the laminate partly. Each holding portion supports the laminate as a spring element, and the spring elements are attached in the direction of displacement of the laminate. As a result, the resonant frequency of the laminate is increased and vibration resistance is improved without increasing the parts count.

Fuel cell stack

A sealing structure includes: components () respectively having sealing surfaces () on surfaces thereof facing each other; and a seal member () interposed between the sealing surfaces to make the sealing surfaces closely adhere to each other, and at least a hard carbon film () is formed on one or both of the sealing surfaces.

Sealing structure and fuel cell having the sealing structure

A fuel cell stack is provided in which a plurality of single cells each including a membrane electrode assembly are stacked in a stacking direction. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of electrical insulation members each connected to an outer peripheral portion of a corresponding one of the membrane electrode assemblies. The fuel cell stack further includes a first displacement absorbing member disposed between each insulation member and an adjacent insulation member.

Disclosed is a fuel cell provided with a membrane electrode structure having a frame, two separators that sandwich the membrane electrode structure therebetween, and gas seals between the end portion of the frame and the end portions of respective separators, and diffuser sections for distributing a reacting gas to between the frame and respective separators. In the diffuser section on the cathode side, the frame is provided with a protruding section in contact with the separator, and in the diffuser section on the anode side, the frame and the separator are disposed by being spaced apart from each other, thereby excellently maintaining contact surface pressure between the membrane electrode structure and the separators, and preventing contact resistance from being increased.

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Yokosuka, Japan

Yasuhiro Numao