A recirculation fuel cell device, which can be utilized on a submarine, may include a fuel cell with an anode side and a cathode side, wherein both the anode and cathode sides have input and output sides. The device may include a first inlet for oxygen and a second inlet for hydrogen. The device may further include a cathode-side connection between the output side of the cathode side and the input side of the cathode side, and an anode-side connection between the output side of the anode side and the input side of the anode side. A water separator may be disposed in the cathode-side connection, and a gas discharge valve for a continuous release of process gases may be disposed on the output side of the cathode side of the fuel cell. Operation of the device may involve recirculating an anode gas stream in its entirety.

A recirculation fuel cell device, which can be utilized on a submarine, may include a fuel cell with an anode side and a cathode side, wherein both the anode and cathode sides have input and output sides. The device may include a first inlet for oxygen and a second inlet for hydrogen. The device may further include a cathode-side connection between the output side of the cathode side and the input side of the cathode side, and an anode-side connection between the output side of the anode side and the input side of the anode side. A water separator may be disposed in the cathode-side connection, and a gas discharge valve for a continuous release of process gases may be disposed on the output side of the cathode side of the fuel cell. Operation of the device may involve recirculating an anode gas stream in its entirety.

Disclosed is an ion-exchange membrane that includes a molecular barrier for influencing permeation selectivity through the membrane. The membrane includes fluorinated carbon backbone chains and fluorinated side chains that extend off of the fluorinated carbon backbone chains. The fluorinated side chains include acid groups for ionic conductivity. The acid groups surround and define permeable domains that are free of the fluorinated carbon backbone chains. Molecular barriers are located in the permeable domains and influence permeability through the domains.

Disclosed is an ion-exchange membrane that includes a molecular barrier for influencing permeation selectivity through the membrane. The membrane includes fluorinated carbon backbone chains and fluorinated side chains that extend off of the fluorinated carbon backbone chains. The fluorinated side chains include acid groups for ionic conductivity. The acid groups surround and define permeable domains that are free of the fluorinated carbon backbone chains. Molecular barriers are located in the permeable domains and influence permeability through the domains.

The present disclosure provides a flow battery comprising a flexible lithium ion conductive film having durability against a highly reductive non-aqueous electrolyte liquid. The flow battery according to the present disclosure comprises a first non-aqueous electrolyte liquid, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a lithium ion conductive film. The first non-aqueous electrolyte liquid contains lithium ions and further biphenyl, phenanthrene, stilbene, triphenylene, anthracene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, fluoranthene, o-terphenyl, m-terphenyl, or p-terphenyl. The lithium ion conductive film comprises a composite body. The composite body contains a lithium ion conductive polymer and polyvinylidene fluoride. The lithium ion conductive polymer includes an aromatic ring into which a lithium salt of an acidic group has been introduced. The lithium ion conductive polymer and the polyvinylidene fluoride have been mixed with each other homogeneously in the composite body.

Disclosed herein is an electrolytic membrane with cationic ion or anionic ion conducting capability comprising crosslinked inorganic-organic hybrid electrolyte in a porous support, wherein the inorganic-organic hybrid crosslinked electrolyte is formed by chemical born formation between Linkers and Crosslinkers, wherein Linkers and/or Crosslinkers include at least one element from Si, P, N, Ti, Zr, Al, B, Ge, Mg, Sn, W, Zn, V, Nb, Pb or S.

Provided are an electrode catalyst layer, a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, having sufficient drainage property and gas diffusibility with high power generation performance over a long term. An electrode catalyst layer (10) bonded to a surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane (11) includes at least a catalyst substance (12), a conductive carrier (13), a polymer electrolyte (14) and fibrous substances (15). The number of the fibrous substances (15) in which inclination of axes with respect to a surface of the electrode catalyst layer (10) bonded to the surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (11) is 0 <45, among the fibrous substances (15), is greater than 50% of the total number of the fibrous substances (15) contained.

Provided are an electrode catalyst layer, a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, having sufficient drainage property and gas diffusibility with high power generation performance over a long term. An electrode catalyst layer (10) bonded to a surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane (11) includes at least a catalyst substance (12), a conductive carrier (13), a polymer electrolyte (14) and fibrous substances (15). The number of the fibrous substances (15) in which inclination of axes with respect to a surface of the electrode catalyst layer (10) bonded to the surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (11) is 0 <45, among the fibrous substances (15), is greater than 50% of the total number of the fibrous substances (15) contained.

The present invention provides a catalyst layer for fuel cells having improved characteristics and a production method therefor.

A catalyst layer for a fuel cell, including a carbon carrier having pores, a catalyst metal carried on the carbon carrier, and an ionomer covering the carbon carrier, wherein the crystal length of the carbon carrier is not less than 6 nm, and the coverage of the catalyst metal by the ionomer is 55% to 65%, and a method for the production of a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, including heat-treating a carbon carrier having pores under an inert gas atmosphere so that the crystal length of the carbon carrier becomes not less than 6 nm, heat-treating the heat-treated carbon carrier under an oxygen atmosphere to activate the carbon carrier, allowing the activated carbon carrier to carry a catalyst metal, mixing the carbon carrier carrying the catalyst metal and an ionomer to cover the carbon carrier with the ionomer, and forming the catalyst layer for a fuel cell using the carbon carrier covered with the ionomer.

The present invention provides a catalyst layer for fuel cells having improved characteristics and a production method therefor.

A catalyst layer for a fuel cell, including a carbon carrier having pores, a catalyst metal carried on the carbon carrier, and an ionomer covering the carbon carrier, wherein the crystal length of the carbon carrier is not less than 6 nm, and the coverage of the catalyst metal by the ionomer is 55% to 65%, and a method for the production of a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, including heat-treating a carbon carrier having pores under an inert gas atmosphere so that the crystal length of the carbon carrier becomes not less than 6 nm, heat-treating the heat-treated carbon carrier under an oxygen atmosphere to activate the carbon carrier, allowing the activated carbon carrier to carry a catalyst metal, mixing the carbon carrier carrying the catalyst metal and an ionomer to cover the carbon carrier with the ionomer, and forming the catalyst layer for a fuel cell using the carbon carrier covered with the ionomer.