A gas detector includes an electrochemical gas sensor. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is formed of a catalyst/binder slurry which is halftone printed onto a substrate. The composite printed element and substrate are sintered to form the electrode.

A device for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly of a fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane feeder unwinding an electrolyte membrane and supplying the unwound electrolyte membrane to a preset transfer path; a first catalyst coater installed in the side of the electrolyte membrane feeder and coating a first catalytic material on another surface of the electrolyte membrane every a preset pitch; a film processor installed in a rear side of the first catalyst coater, supplying a second protective film onto a first catalyst electrode layer on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane, and taking off the first protective film from the one surface of the electrolyte membrane; and a second catalyst coater installed in a rear side of the film processor and coating a second catalytic material on the one surface of the electrolyte membrane.

[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 layer 3 for a fuel cell on an electrolyte film (application object) 2, the apparatus including: a holding portion 6 that holds a sheet-shaped electrolyte film 2, an application portion 7 that applies a catalyst ink 5 for forming the catalyst layer 3 on at least one side of the electrolyte film 2 held by the holding portion 6, a chamber portion 8 that is capable of forming a space 55 including the holding portion 6, and a suction portion 9 that depressurizes the inside of the space 55 formed by the chamber portion 8 so as to dry the catalyst ink 5.

A method of producing an assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane includes a step of preliminary pressure application wherein a pressure is continuously applied to a recipient sheet including a polymer electrolyte membrane and an assembling sheet including an assembling layer to be assembled to at least one surface of the recipient sheet, the pressure being applied to the recipient sheet and the assembling layer of the assembling sheet being in contact with each other, and a step of heated pressure application wherein the recipient sheet and the assembling sheet after the preliminary pressure application step are subjected to continuous pressure application with heating.

The present invention relates to a structure including a layer including titanium (di)oxide nanostructures, such as titania nanotubes, in contact with a membrane layer including a proton-conducting polymer. A process for preparing the structures of the invention is presented wherein titanium (di)oxide nanostructures on a first substrate are transferred to an ion-conducting polymer membrane by pressing using a hot press, and then detaching the nanostructures from the first substrate.

The present invention provides a method for producing a fuel cell electrode which is configured to be able to deliver stable electricity generation performance even if the humidity condition of the external environment is changed. Disclosed is a method for producing a fuel cell electrode comprising a catalyst layer that contains a catalyst composite-carried carbon containing platinum, a titanium oxide and an electroconductive carbon, wherein the method comprises: a first step of decreasing an amount of acidic functional groups on a surface of the catalyst composite-carried carbon by firing the catalyst composite-carried carbon at 250 C. or more; a second step of producing a catalyst ink by mixing the catalyst composite-carried carbon obtained in the first step, an ionomer, and a solvent; and a third step of forming the catalyst layer using the catalyst ink obtained in the second step.

A process for incorporating a nanocatalyst on the surface of and within the pores of an electrode comprising subjecting an electrode to a singular template impregnation to form a treated electrode having a bio-template layer; and then subjecting the treated electrode to a singular nano-catalyst impregnation for tethering the nano-catalyst to the treated electrode; and then removing the bio-template layer by performing thermolysis upon the treated electrode for forming a nano-catalyst bonded on the surface and within the pores of the electrode. A modified electrode or product made by this process is provided.

An object is to provide a catalyst particle that can exhibit high activity. The catalyst particle is an alloy particle formed of platinum atom and a non-platinum metal atom, wherein (i) the alloy particle has an L1.sub.2 structure as an internal structure and has an extent of ordering of L1.sub.2 structure in the range of 30 to 100%, (ii) the alloy particle has an LP ratio calculated by CO stripping method of 10% or more, and (iii) the alloy particle has a d.sub.N/d.sub.A ratio in the range of 0.4 to 1.0.

An electrode for a fuel cell system is provided. The electrode includes a carbon support. The carbon support includes carbon particles each functionalized with one or more sulfur and oxygen-containing moieties. Platinum-based catalyst particles are disposed on the carbon support. Ionomer is disposed on the carbon support. A weight ratio of the ionomer to the carbon support is about 0.4 or less.

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly, and a method for making the assembly, are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC), including forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution including hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites, forming the functionalized ZTC. The method further includes incorporating the functionalized ZTC into electrodes, forming a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and forming the PEM fuel cell assembly.