The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 17, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 18, 2003
Naoki Ito, Yokohama, JP;
Masahiko Iijima, Iruma-gun, JP;
Satoshi Aoyama, Susono, JP;
Satoshi Iguchi, Mishima, JP;
Koichi Numata, Mishima, JP;
Naoki Ito, Yokohama, JP;
Masahiko Iijima, Iruma-gun, JP;
Satoshi Aoyama, Susono, JP;
Satoshi Iguchi, Mishima, JP;
Koichi Numata, Mishima, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
The invention provides an electrolyte membrane that allows an operating temperature of a solid polymer membrane fuel cell to be raised and an operating temperature of a solid oxide fuel cell to be lowered. This electrolyte membrane can be used in a fuel cell that is operable in an intermediate temperature range. The invention also provides a fuel cell using such an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane has a hydrated electrolyte layer, and dense layers made of a hydrogen permeable material that are formed on both sides of this electrolyte layer. Both sides of the electrolyte membrane are coated with dense layers. Consequently, evaporation of moisture contained in the electrolyte layer is suppressed, and increase in the resistance of the membrane is inhibited. As a result, the range of the operating temperature of the fuel cell can be enlarged.