A technology is provided that is capable of improving deterioration of a fuel cell due to non-stationary operation (startup/shutdown, fuel depletion). An anode-side catalyst composition comprising a catalyst having catalyst particles carried on electrically conductive material and an ion exchange resin, characterized in that the catalyst particle are formed of an alloy, of which oxygen reduction capability and water electrolysis are both lower than those of platinum, and which has hydrogen oxidation capability.

The present invention relates to a catalyst and a manufacturing method thereof, the catalyst is characterized that a distance between a transition metal of a transition metal oxide nanoparticle and oxygen is controlled by substituting at least a part of surface of the transition metal oxide nanoparticle with an inclusion.

The present specification relates to a carrier-nanoparticle complex and a preparation method thereof.

In this fuel cell electrode catalyst layer, a catalyst is supported on a carrier comprising inorganic oxide particles. The fuel cell electrode catalyst layer is provided with a porous structure. When a mercury penetration method is used to measure the pore size distribution of the porous structure, a peak is observed in the range spanning from 0.005 μm to 0.1 μm inclusive, and a peak is also observed in the range spanning from over 0.1 μm to not more than 1 μm. When P1 represents the peak intensity in the range spanning from 0.005 μm to 0.1 μm inclusive, and P2 represents the peak intensity in the range spanning from over 0.1 μm to not more than 1 μm, the value of P2/P1 is 0.2-10 inclusive. It is preferable that the inorganic oxide be tin oxide.

A catalyst layer material, a method for fabricating the same, and a fuel cell are provided. The catalyst layer material utilized for the fuel cell includes a catalyst support and a catalyst distributed on the catalyst support. The catalyst support contains Ti.sub.xM.sub.1−xO.sub.2, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of a Group IB metal, a Group IIA metal, a Group IIB metal, a Group IIIA, a Group VB metal, a Group VIB metal, a Group VIIB metal and a Group VIIIB metal, and 0<X≦0.9. By applying the non-carbonaceous catalyst support containing high conductivity metal elements to the fuel cell, stability and performance of the cell can be effectively enhanced.

Provided is a structure for forming carbon nanofiber, including a base material containing an oxygen ion-conductive oxide, and a metal catalyst that is provided on one surface side of the base material.

A polycrystalline fused product based on brownmillerite, includes, for more than 95% of its weight, of the elements Ca, Sr, Fe, O, M and M′, the contents of the elements being defined by the formula X.sub.yM.sub.zFe.sub.tM′.sub.uO.sub.2.5, wherein the atomic indices are such that 0.76≤y≤1.10, z≤0.21, 0.48≤t≤1.15 and u≤0.52, 0.95≤y+z≤1.10, and 0.95≤t+u≤1.10, X being Ca or Sr or a mixture of Ca and Sr, M being an element chosen from the group formed by La, Ba and mixtures thereof, M′ being an element chosen from the group formed by Ti, Cu, Gd, Mn, Al, Sc, Ga, Mg, Ni, Zn, Pr, In, Co, and mixtures thereof, the sum of the atomic indices of Ti and Cu being less than or equal to 0.1.

The invention provides electro-catalyst compositions for an anode electrode of an acid mediated proton exchange membrane-based water electrolysis system. The compositions include a noble metal component selected from the group consisting of iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide and mixtures thereof, and a non-noble metal component selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, yttrium oxide, scandium oxide, cooper oxide, zirconium oxide, nickel oxide and mixtures thereof. Further, the non-noble metal component can include a dopant. The dopant can be at least one element selected from Groups III, V, VI and VII of the Periodic Table. The compositions can be prepared using any solution based methods involving a surfactant approach or a sol gel approach. Further, the compositions are prepared using noble metal and non-noble metal precursors. Furthermore, a thin film containing the compositions can be deposited onto a substrate to form the anode electrode.

A fuel cell includes a proton-exchange membrane, and a cathode and anode fixed on its opposite sides. The anode delimits a flow conduit between a molecular-oxygen inlet area and a water outlet area. The cathode includes a support for catalyst material. The support has first and second materials to which catalyst is fixed, the first material being a graphitized material. The second material has a resistance to corrosion by oxygen that is greater than that of the first material. A quantity of the second material at the inlet area is greater than a quantity of the second material at the water outlet. The cathode comprises a first layer including the first material and a second layer including the second material. A thickness of the second layer decreases between the molecular-oxygen inlet area and the water outlet area.

A membrane electrode assembly including: an anode electrode; a cathode electrode; and a polymer electrolyte membrane; wherein the cathode includes a first cathode catalyst sublayer including a first precious metal catalyst composition and a first ionomer composition including a first ionomer and a second ionomer; and a second cathode catalyst sublayer including a second precious metal catalyst composition and a second ionomer composition including a third ionomer; wherein the first ionomer is different from the second ionomer in at least one of chemical structure and equivalent weight.