Air Water Inc. has a plan to actively develop the hydrogen business based on the innovative quaternary catalyst.
The company has succeeded in developing an extremely small hydrogen generator based on the quaternary catalyst, and has installed a small hydrogen generator at a steelmaker in Japan.
The main market is targeted mainly to the hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles and small and medium-sized firms in domestic and foreign countries.

Air Water Inc. has acquired a 20% stake in Sumisho Air Water Co., Ltd from Sumitomo Corporation, and now owns a 92.5 % stake in the company, making the company its wholly owned subsidiary.
Sumisho Air Water Co., Ltd will be changed to "Air Water Hydro Co., Ltd" on July 1, 2007. This action of the company is part of the active hydrogen business development.

The quaternary catalyst was developed by Inui Satoyuki, professor emeritus, Kyoto University. The catalyst consists of nickel, oxide cerium, platinum, and rhodium. Where this high performance catalyst is used, the heat generation process and the reforming process are both carried out by one catalyst. This eliminates the necessity of using the heating furnace for the hydrogen generation, resulting in remarkable reduction of the gas generator size (Chemical Daily). The reforming reaction temperature is reduced to 300oC. This results in considerable reduction of the start-up time of the generator. Theoretically, the hydrogen generator could be assembled into the fuel cell vehicle.

The catalyst provides a new reforming process, called a "heat neutralization process", for generating hydrogen gas. In the process, oxygen is added to the raw material, and a combustion reaction as the heat generation reaction and a steam reforming reaction as the heat absorbing reaction are both carried out by the same catalyst.
The heat neutralization process, currently available, is specified as: Raw material: city gas (13A) or LPG = pure water, oxygen
Hydrogen purity = 99,999%
Dew point = -60oC or lower
Product hydrogen pressure = 0.68MPa
The advantageous features of the new heat neutralization process are: 1) The reformer size is reduced to 1/50, and 2) Environmental pollutants such as NOx and SOx are not produced.

The heat neutralization process has successfully overcome the disadvantages of the conventional hydrogen generation processes: 1) water electrolysis process, and 2) process by steam reforming or partially oxidizing hydrocarbon as raw material.

Rough and simple search for the patents and pending patent applications by Dr. Inui produced the following results (using JPO database).
1. Conversion Of Lower Paraffinic Hydrocarbon Into Aromatic Hydrocarbon
2. Production Of Hydrogen By Reforming Of Methane
3. Production Of Aromatic Hydrocarbon From Lower Paraffinic Hydrocarbon
4. Production Of Aromatic Hydrocarbon From Lower Paraffinic Hydrocarbon
5. Production Of Light Hydrocarbon From Synthesis Gas
6. Oxide Catalyst, Production Thereof And Catalytic Hydrogenation Of Co2 Using The Catalyst
7. Method For Converting 6-8c Paraffin Hydrocarbon Into Aromatic Hydrocarbon
8. Production Of Silica-Modified Alumina For Catalyst Carrier
9. Production Of Thermoplastic Resin Composition
10. Thermoplastic Resin Composition
11. Method For Converting Olefinic Hydrocarbon Into High-Octane Gasoline
12. Bimetalosilicate Catalyst For Selective Conversion Of Methanol To Aromatic Compound
13. Synthesis Of Lower Olefin From Methanol

Air Water Inc.
One of the three biggest industrial gas manufactures in Japan
Sumitomo Corporation
One of the major trading companies in Japan
Sumisho Air Water Co., Ltd
Manufacture, sales and recycle of industrial hydrogen gas

011007
SOFC Leading Edge in Japan

SOFC leading edge in Japan will be found in "The Advanced Ceramic Reactor" project supported by NEDO.
The NEDO's press release on Feb. 21, 2007 summarizes this project.
NEDO defines the "ceramic reactor" as a chemical reaction system formed with ceramics, which makes use of the electrochemical functions as of a battery cell.
The project aims to develop the manufacturing technology to fully extract the features of ceramics and to realize the chemical reactor, or the ceramic reactor formed by accurately and elaborately assembling micro-materials, which has never been realized.
The project has succeeded in providing the ceramic reactors which are operable at more lower temperature than ever before and capable of generating electric power at high power density (owing to integrated fabrication).

Results so far produced:
1) High performance electrode material for fuel cell enables the resultant fuel cell to produce high output power at lower operation temperature, 100oC or higher than of the conventional cell (January 2006).
Photo/graphh: (from upper to lower and left to right. The same rule applies to the remaining results 2) to 6) below )
1) electrode formed with composite powder, 2) polarization characteristic of developed cellA3) total electrode polarization, 4) current density, 5) total polarization value of developed cell: 1/6 to 1/10 of that of conventional one (cell performance of developed cell at 500‹C is substantially the same as of the conventional one at 650oC)

2) Succeeded in operating the micro-tube SOFC at remarkably lowered temperatures. The generated power is: 0.17W/cm2 at 450oC. Those figures have been considered to be impossible ones. The SOFC generated electric power of 1W/cm2 at 570oC (January 2006).
Photo/graph: 1) voltage, 2) power density (W/cm2), 3) 1.6mm dia. micro-SOFC, 4) current density (A/cm2), 5) 0.8mm dia. micro-SOFC, 6) High performance micro-tube cell was formed: small, high output characteristic (1W/cm2 at 570oC) was confirmed. The figures show the world's highest level of the fuel cell characteristic per unit electrode area of the ceria base ceramics SOFC.

3) Developed a new flexible sheet material for gas sealing, which is necessary for assembling the micro-SOFC units into a generator module (July 2006).
Photo/graphh: 1) process spherical particulates of the glass precursor synthesized from the aqueous solution into a sheet form, 2) start material, 3) porous electrode >> sealing material >> porous material, 4) flexible sheet, 5) Developed a flexible sheet capable of satisfactorily gas sealing even porous material by a heat treatment of 800oC or lower, 6) The sheet is capable of satisfactorily suppressing gas penetration and high insulation (about 1MW at 650oC). The gas penetration into a porous material having a thickness of 150 to 250 microns and a porosity of 30% could be suppressed to 50 to 100 microns.

4) Developed a process for manufacturing Micro-honeycomb type integrated SOFCs. The SOFC is a porous filter shaped like a honeycomb, which containing tubular holes of several to tenth millimeters in diameter. Over 250 generator cells could be successfully fabricated into a volume of 1m3 (December 2006).
Photo/graphh: 1) air electrode, 2) electrolyte, 3) fuel electrode, 4) Enhancement of the micro fabrication technology: Over 250 cells per cm3 was realized. Power generation was confirmed. Quick start (within five minutes) was achieved. Good durability against the repeating of start/stop operation was confirmed. News item No. 55-4: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/Oldnews2006-2.html#559

5) Creative process for Dispersing and Depositing Silver Nanoparticles in Porous Ceramic Material - Process Doubles Output Density of IT-SOFC -(December 2006).
Photo/graph: http://www.nedo.go.jp/informations/press/190216_1/shiryou5.pdf
News item No. 55-9: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/Oldnews2006-2.html#559

6) Demonstrated that a cube of 3 x 3 x 3 cm consisting of several tens of micro-tube SOFCs is capable of outputting power of about 10 to 20W (January 2007).
Photo/graph: 1) potential/V, 2) Current/A, 3) output/W5) output demonstration using a model cube >> 14.2W (24.8a/h, 0.53W/cm3) was confirmed, 6) c Ag wire = air supply I-Vc Ag wire + air supply I-V Reversc Pt wire + air open I-Vc Ag wire + air supply output c Pt wire + air open output 7) (blue arrow) air (red arrow) fuel gas sealing Ag wire.

Kurita Water Ind. Ltd. has successfully provided a danger-free methanol fuel for DMFCs by a novel and creative solid state methanol, which results from Kurita's clathrate compound technology.

As known, the liquid methanol is volatile and flammable in conditions of normal temperature and pressure, and is under many restrictions when it is actually applied to the fuel for the FC power source of the small device. Leakage of the methanol possibly leads to device troubles. The methanol (initial) is currently designated to be poisonous and deleterious by the related regulations, and is prohibited from being taken into the airplane.
Those safety and portability problems have been almost completely solved by the solid state methanol, which is realized by applying the clatehrate compound technology to the liquid methanol.

This technology was already reported by this site (see news 40-7; World's First Solid-State Methanol Created by Kurita.
And, this technology was already disclosed on November 14, 2006 in"2006 Fuel Cell Seminar", and press released on October last year.

For the technical details of the solid state methanol, please ask Kurita or read other materials.

The rough and simple search of the JPO (Japanese Patent Office) database presented the following two patent applications, which seem to relate to the Kurita's solid state methanol technology:
1) Fuel Supply Device for Fuel Cells and 2) Preserving Method of Fuel For Fuel Cell.

1) Fuel Supply Device for Fuel Cells (translated by FuelCell japan)
a) Object
To provide a fuel supply device for fuel cells which is safely carried and is capable of easily supplying fuel to the fuel cells.
b) Solution
A fuel supply device for supplying fuel to fuel cells is comprised of a fuel container 2 and a fluid means 3 adjoined and coupled to the fuel container 2.
The upper and lower surfaces of the fuel container 2 are covered with liquid permeable sheets 4 and 4A and the fuel container contains a methanol inclusion compound 5 therein.
The fluid means 3 is constructed such that a push button 7 is attached to the upper part of a sponge 6 containing water therein in a state that it is allowed to press down against the sponge 6.
with such a structural arrangement, when the bush button 7 is depressed to reduce the volume of the sponge 6, water is supplied to the fuel container 2 and an aqueous fuel solution is formed.
[Selected Drawing]
Fig. 2.

2) Preserving Method of Fuel For Fuel Cell (copy from the JPO database, IPDL)
a) Object
To provide a preserving method of a fuel for fuel cells, capable of stably preserving the fuel for fuel cells.
b) Solution
The fuel for fuel cells is stably preserved as a molecular compound.
As the molecular compound an inclusion compound formed from the fuel for fuel cells and a host compound can be used.
As the fuel cells preferable are polymer electrolyte fuel cells, particularly direct methanol fuel cells. The fuel for the fuel cells is preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, hydrocarbons and acetals. The fuel for the fuel cells can have various forms such as the molecular compound is filled in a cartridge.

Advantageous features of solid state methanol:
1) High Safety Level
Nonvolatile and high inflamation point. Out of the regulations.
2) Excellent portability
Free from the liquid leakage. Easy to be processed into beads, pellets, sheets, etc.
3) Recyclable
After used as fuel, the host compound is reacted again with the methanol for recycling.

Time to start the sale of the solid state methanol fuel: Within 2007
The company has already filed several patent applications, including a basic invention and its peripheral inventions" on the solid state methanol fuel. Some of them have been disclosed.

Others:
The solid state methanol has already been decided to be registered as "Methanol Inclusion Compound" in Safety International Standards on mobile phone fuel cells and the like.
The company started to commercialize the solid state methanol as the power source system in cooperation with a manufacture(s) which is now developing the DMFC carried on the mobile device.
A trial model of the power supply system using a cartridge containing the solid state methanol has been developed. The power supply system is outfitted to the mobile phone.

The company tried to apply the Kurita's clathrate compound technology to the hydrogen storage, currently under development in the world.
The result was that the approach succeeded, and filed as patent applications (basic invention and its peripheral inventions) with Japanese patent office.

Business activities of Kurita Water Ind. Ltd.
* Water Treatment
* Wastewater Treatment
* Chemicals for Water Treatment
* Soil Remediation
* New Business

Developed by Osaka Gas, Kyocera and CHOFU SEISAKUSHO Co., Ltd.

Features of new small 0.7W SOFC cogeneration system
1) Remarkable size-reduction
a) Thinned cells and compact cell stack
A thickness of the new cell is reduced from 3mm to 2mm.
The number of cells of the cell stack is reduced from 200 cells to 126 cells.
Photograph of new cell: http://www.osakagas.co.jp/Press/pre07/070125.htm
This residentialFC cogeneration systems will be installed in NEXT 21 Osaka Gas Experimental Residential Compelx.

b) Simple construction of power generation unit
The air introduction section for introducing air to the power generation module (metal container containing the cell stack and the reformer) is integrated into the case of the power generation module to simplify the construction of the power generation unit. The 0.7kW SOFC cogeneration system is reduced in volume to about 50% of the 1kW one.

2) Thinned hot-water supply/heating unit based on waste heat
The hot-water tank capacity is modified to an appropriate one and the layout of the auxiliary boiler is altered. The resultant hot-water supply/heating unit has 330mm in depth. The installation area and the volume of the combination of the power generation unit and the hot-water supply/heating unit, newly developed, are the smallest in the world.

3) Power generation efficiency = 45%, waste heat collection efficiency = more than 30%
Specifications of the power generation unit:
Type: Outside installation type
Dimensions: 950, 540, and 350 (mm)
Weight: 91.5kg
Gas: city gas
Power output: 1) rated output = 700W, 2) min. output = 100W or less
Power generation efficiency: 45% (LHV) (rated)
Waste-heat recovery efficiency: 30% (LHV) (rated)
Waste-heat recovery temperature: 75°C
Operation: continuous/power load following operation

Osaka gas-Kyocera pair developed the 1kW SOFC cogeneration system and conducted the demonstration test from last year.
See 1) 49-6 Operation Test Results of Residential SOFC Cogeneration System of 1kW and 2) 49-5 56.1%LHV (50.5%HHV) = DC Terminal Power Generating Efficiency of DC 2.5kW Normal-Pressure SOFC Power Generation Unit: both being contained in OldNews 2006-1:
http://www.fcpat-japan.com/Oldnews2006-1.html

A rate of the power generation efficiency to the overall efficiency of the SOFC cogeneration system is high. It is expected that even the home-use cogeneration system requiring relatively low heat demand, when incorporating the SOFC, will surely produce the environmental and economical advantages.
The hot-water supply/heating unit utilizing waste heat incorporated into the cogeneration system was developed by Osaka Gas & CHOFU SEISAKUSHO Co., Ltd.

004007
Updated Operation Test Results of "Large-Scale Demonstration Tests on 175 Home-Use or Residential FC Cogeneration Systems"

METI (ministry of economy, trade and industry) disclosed the operation test results of "Large-Scale Demonstration Tests of Stationary (Residential or Home-Use) Fuel Cell Cogeneration Systems", which started from 2005.

1. Duration & No. of Sites
Duration: 12 months: 2005/10 to 2006/9
N of Sites: 175

2. Test Results
Each Home Energy Saving: about 198 liters per year in average
1) Reduction Amount of Primary Energy (year average)
a) Approx. 14,600MJ = Top pair site

* Pair: pair of the company who installs and operates the cogeneration systems and the fuel cell manufactures
* Top pair: the pair who achieved the top primary energy reduction

b) Approx. 7,200MJ = all the sites

2) Rates of Primary Energy (year average)
2.7% = top pair site
15.3% = all sites

3) Electricity Use Efficiency & Heat Use Efficiency of Each Home in This Project
a) 26.0% = Electricity Use Efficiency (average)
b) 37.1% = Heat Use Efficiency (average)

3. CO2 Reduction Amount per Year (when compared to thermal power plant)
1) CO2 Reduction Amount
Approx. 850kg-CO2 = top site pair (average)
Approx. 850kg-CO2 = all sites (average)

2) CO2 Reduction Rate
a) 40.5% = top pair site (average)
b) 28.0% = all sites (average)

Source: METI (ministry of economy, trade and industry)

For exact and more information, please ask Mr. Ando, Tsukidate or Goto in
Agency For Natural Resources and Energy
http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/english/index.htm

RelatedNews Items aleady reported by FuelCell japan

002007
Innovative Coaxial Nano-Cable
- Presents core technology for organic thin-film solar cells -

The coaxial nano-cable is normally insulative, but when receiving light, it generates current ((1) Fig. 4).
The current linearly increases in proportion to the amount of light received.
The current variation ranges up to 10,000 times or more ((2) in Fig. 4).
The current is stepwise turned on and off by turning on and off light applied ((3) in Fig. 4).
No other carbon nanotubes than the coaxial nano-cable have presented such characteristics.

Developed by Professor Takuzo Aida, et al
Presented in "Science", Dec. 15 (EST)
Title: "Photoconductive Coaxial Nanotubes of Molecularly Connected Electron Donor and Acceptor Layers"
For exact and more details of this article, please visit "Science" or ask
Professor Takuzo Aida (The university of Tokyo) : aida@macro.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Toshitaka Kuroki (JST): t2kuroki@jst.go.jp
JST = Japan Science and Technology Agency

Fig. 4 : Nanotube photoconductive characteristics
(1) of Fig. 4 : current vs. voltage characteristic
Light-on (upper), Light-off (lower) in the figure.
(2) of Fig. 4 : current vs. light amount characteristic
(3) of Fig. 4 : current variation with respect to time (minute) (switching characteristic)

Background
Nowadays much attention is paid to the solar cells as clean energy conversion device. The amorphous silicon solar cell made of the inorganic material has been put into practice and widely used. However, there are strong and consistent demands for reducing the size and cost and the junction area enlargement of the solar cell.
To meet such demands, competitive efforts to develop organic thin-film solar cells are energetically being made in the world.
To develop the inorganic solar cell, it is desirable to independently laminate the electron donor and the electron acceptor and to couple those laminated ones in hetero-junction in a state that those are not mixed.
To realize a high efficient system, it is necessary to increase the junction area as large as possible, as a matter of course. The electron donor and the electron acceptor must be controlled in molecular level to maximize the areas of the molecular layers where those layers contact each other. Many difficulties, however, are expected to realize "the phase separation and the heterojunction" by using the electron donor and the electron acceptor, which attract to each other. There is no precedent of such a technical approach, so far as we know.

Briefing of Coaxial Nano-Cable
The coaxial nano-cable successfully solved this problem. In the coaxial nano-cable, the different molecular layers of the electron donor and the electron acceptor are hetero-junction coupled with each other in a single tubular nanostructure. The coaxial nano-cable consists of a molecular part (HBC - TNF: see Fig. 1) in which a sheet like molecular (HBC) formed by cutting out graphite called " hexabenzocoronene", and a molecular called " trinitrofluorenone" (TNF) are coupled. The HBC and the TNT of the molecular part are associated with each other in a solvent. By gradually adding another solvent, the association of those parts is dissociated, and HBC is laminated on HBC, and TNF is laminated on TNF. The coaxial nano-cable thus formed has the sizes: outside diameter = 16 nanometers, wall thickness = 3 nanometers, and length = a few microns (see Fig. 2). The coaxial nano-cable has a coaxial structure (Fig. 3). As seen from Fig. 3, HBCs are regularly arranged inside the wall, and the TNF layer is laminated on both sides of the tube layer. The result is formation of a nanophase separation structure in which the electron donating HBC layer and the electron accepting TNF layer are separately arranged while keeping a fixed distance between them. The coaxial nano-cable is just what many researchers have been longing for.

Fig. 1 : HBC - TNF chemical structure formula
Fig. 2: HBC - TNF nanotube photograph by Electron Microscope
Fig. 3: Nanotube structure
(1) Molecular model of HBC -TNF molecular part
(2) The wall of the nanotube into which HBC -TNF molecular parts are aggregated
(3) Model of a coaxial nano-cable of the HBC -TNF nanotube

Application & Advantages
Usual carbon nanotubes are manufactured under very severe conditions of high temperature and high vacuum. In the case of the coaxial nano-tube, a nanotube structure which is uniform in molecular level is manufactured under moderate conditions of room temperature. Accordingly, in the form of a nanoscale energy conversion material having a primary current path, the coaxial nano-cable will greatly contribute to advancement of the nanotechnology and development of the nanoelectronics.
The nanotube structure allows the molecule-layer contact area to be maximized. Accordingly, it is expected to be applied to high efficient photoconductive material and photovoltaic material.

Developed by TORAY Industries, Inc: http://www.toray.com/
For exact and more information on this new technology, please ask the company.

The hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane developed is innovative.
The mechanical properties of the membrane are materially improved: tensile elongation = about 1.3 times, tensile strength = about 3 times, modulus of elasticity = about 10 times, and tear strength = about 4 times (when compared to those of the fluorine-based electrolyte membrane, measured at 0.1S/cm (proton conductivity by the company).
The tensile elongation and the tear strength are about 2.5 times and 5 times when compared to those of the conventional hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane (measured by the company).
The new hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane has successfully overcome the largest faults of the conventional hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane: it is hard and fragile.
This leads to the long durability and long lifetime of the membrane.
Those figures were achieved while securing high proton conductivity.
The hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane inherently exhibits a high impedance of hydrogen from permeating into the membrane (hydrogen permeability is about 1/10 of that of the fluorine-based electrolytic membrane).
The new membrane will greatly contribute to the performance enhancement and lifetime increase of the PEFC, which is currently used in the automobiles, stationary fuel cells, and portable devices, and further can be used for the DMFC, which is used in the mobile electronic devices.
To solve the durability problem of the hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane, TORAY originally constructed a molecular design concept as shown in Fig. 3, which is to be referred to as a polymer high order structure control in nano level.
The "pi- electron conjugated system interaction" was used for the polymer high order structure control.
The structure of the electrolyte membrane is stabilized by increasing the strength of the pi-electron conjugated system interaction between the polymer chains. The result is that even when the electrolyte membrane contacts the high concentration methanol, the electrolyte membrane does not dissolve and is not destroyed. This feature enables use of the high concentration methanol in the DMFC fuel cell.
In the investigation by the company, it was confirmed that a strong correlation is present between those mechanical properties and the durability. The fact is under evaluation by the company (Fig. 4). The membrane properties improvement at low temperature and humidity is now evaluated and investigated.

Background
An attempt has been made to use the fluorine-based electrolyte membrane for the electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell. However, the fluorine-based electrolyte membrane has inherent problems: high cost, possible environmental contamination, and insufficient chemical durability.
To tackle the problems, much efforts are presently made to develop the hydrocarbon electrolyte membranes in companies, universities and laboratories in the world.
A hydrogen permeability of the hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane is low (about 1/3 of that of the fluorine-based electrolyte membrane ). This raises a hope that it could realize the fuel-cell electrolyte membrane having long lifetime.
To use the hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane for the fuel cell, reliable solution is needed for the problem: how to increase the physical durability of the membrane.
In the case of the DMFC fuel cell, the try of using high concentration methanol
is attempted. However, the high concentration methanol dissolves and destroys the electrolyte membrane. To overcome this drawback, it has been desired to develop a new electrolyte membrane having high chemical durability.
This technology was presented in:
1) 210th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society, October 29 to November 3, Cancun in Mexico
2) 30th Anniversary Fuel Cell Seminar, November 13 to 17, Hawaii, and
3) 15th Polymer Material Forum, November 16 to 17, Osaka in Japan

Developed by KRI, Inc.: http://www.kri-inc.jp/index_e.html

The company has a plan to further develop this creative technology for commercialization on the basis of a consignment study in cooperation with material manufacturers and battery manufactures.

KRI, Inc. has succeeded in developing a negative electrode applicable to a next generation high power lithium ion battery, which will be used for the HEV (hybrid electric vehicle).
The negative electrode developed has high capacity and extremely high output characteristics.
The features of the negative electrode are as follows:
1) Output power = about five times
2) Capacity = about three times
3) Material = polyacene-based organic semiconductor
(Those figures are presented, compared to those of the conventional ones.).

[Background]
There is a strong market demand of developing a compact electricity storage device having much higher output characteristics and high energy density,

In the current stage, the nickel hydrogen battery is mainly used for the power source for the HEV. As known, the nickel hydrogen battery has limits to the output power and the energy density when one tries to use it for the battery for high performance vehicles and to satisfy demand of size reduction of the power source, however.

As also known, the lithium ion battery has the highest energy density among the electricity storages. This is readily seen from the fact that it is most widely used for the power sources for the potable devices.
Focusing on this fact, technical development efforts are targeted to application of the lithium iron battery to the HEV power source.
Formerly, a lithium-containing transition metal oxide is used for the positive electrode, while a carbon material is used for the negative electrode.
In the development of the negative electrodes in particular, design of the structure of a carbon material, electrode thickness, and energy density are discussed.
To increase the output power of the battery, the lithium ion capacity and the structure of the carbon material inevitably present a dilemma that increase of the battery power necessitates decrease of the energy density, i.e., sacrifice of the advantageous feature of "high energy density" of the lithium ion battery.

[Technology Briefing]
Polyacene-based organic semiconductor (PAS)* was used for the negative electrode.

* The polyacene-based organic semiconductor (conductive polymer) is a generic term for condensed aromatic polymers which are produced when phenol resin is thermally reacted at 500 to 700 degrees Celsius. It was developed by Yada in KIRI Inc., who was employed in Kanebo Corporation. The material was applied to the battery, which is still being sold with trade name, "Polyacene Battery", as a memory back battery for portable devices.

The unique technologies, "polyacene-based material design technology" and "pre-doping technology", owned by the company, were used for this new negative electrode.
The negative electrode was developed on the basis of the unique technologies, "material structure allowing an easy migration of lithium ions" and "decrease of electrode resistance achieved by lithium pre-doping technology", owned by the company,
The lithium ion battery into which the new negative electrode is incorporated could have an extremely increased output power, while securing the high energy density. The volume and weight of the lithium iron battery for the HEV could be reduced to be 1/2 or less.
The polyacene-based organic semiconductor, which was used for the super high output negative electrode, has an amorphous structure, is larger in interlayer distance than the carbon material, and is bulky.
In the conventional lithium ion battery using the carbon material for the negative electrode, lithium is supplied from the positive electrode containing lithium to the carbon material of the negative electrode
The polyacene-based organic semiconductor is capable of storing a large amount of lithium ions. Because of this, the lithium ions, which are supplied only from the positive electrode, are insufficient in amount. To take advantage of the high capacity, it is necessary to pre-dope lithium into the polyacene-based organic semiconductor.
It was also found that the electrode resistance could be materially reduced by using a novel structure design and appropriately controlling the pre-doping operation.
The company succeeded in bringing out excellent output characteristics of the negative electrode without impairing the high capacity of the polyacene-based organic semiconductor. And, a velocity of lithium ion migration in the negative electrode was successfully increased to be about five time as large as of the former carbon material.

For further information, contact KRI, Inc : http://www.kri-inc.jp/index_e.html

KRI, Inc. = Comprehensive contract research institute holding advanced function covering both contract research and consulting.
Company Profile: http://www.kri-inc.jp/aboutkri/profile/index_e.html

Developed by: KRI, Inc. and NISHIYAMA NORIKAZU, associate professor in Graduate Scholl of Engineering Osaka University

A porous substrate was used for the new hydrogen separation membrane.
The hydrogen separation ability of the membrane is very high,
comparable with that of palladium (Pd) based hydrogen separation membrane (at room temperature),
and is about 100 times as high as that of the porous inorganic film.
A process of the hydrogen separation membrane is simple and uses zeolite. The zeolite is much cheaper than palladium, currently used. .
The process is capable of forming a hydrogen separation film having a uniform thickness of 10 micrometer.

A conventional membrane of this type uses palladium as a precious metal.
The palladium is expensive, and hydrogen degrades the palladium-based membrane. This shortens the service life of the film.
The hydrogen separation membrane using inexpensive materials other than palladium, such as porous inorganic material, and polymer, are also under development.
The membranes made of those inexpensive materials permits molecules other than hydrogen to permeate through the membranes per se.
In this circumstance, one of the problems which needs urgent solution is how to form the hydrogen separation membrane, which has high hydrogen separation ability comparable with that of the palladium-based membrane, and is capable of effectively blocking materials other than hydrogen, particularly carbon monoxide, which degrades the catalyst used in the fuel cell.

Zeolite power is dissolved into a solvent, and a porous substrate is coated with the resultant solution.
The amorphous aluminosilicate skeleton, which is formed by dissolving zeolite (crystalline), is used to achieve the hydrogen separation function.
The 4- to 6-membered amorphous aluminosilicate skeleton is able to separate hydrogen.
The new hydrogen separation membrane and its forming process are based on this fact. (Visit at: http://www.kri-inc.jp/ts/mcp/h-film3.htm#4).

The process is very simple.
Accordingly, the process may be applied to a large substrate.

The process may be applied to form a film on substrates having complicated outer configurations, such as honeycomb structure and polygonal configuration.
It has been difficult to form the film formation on such substrates.
This fact implies that the surface area of the formed hydrogen separation membrane is large, the hydrogen is more efficiently separated, and the film forming substrate is reduced in size.

KRI, Inc. has proposed a multi-client project for further developing the high hydrogen separation membrane of high separation ability, and is calling for clients to participate in this project.

Graduate Scholl of Engineering Osaka University
Associate professor
mailto:nisiyama@cheng.es.osaka-u.ac.jp
http://www.dma.jim.osaka-u.ac.jp/kg-portal/aspi/RX0011D.asp?UNO=12137&page=

KRI, Inc.

53-6
Platform Truck Strongly Calls for Fuel Cell for its Power Source

TOKYO GAS Co. Ltd., JFC Container Co., Ltd., and Kanto Noki Co., Ltd. signed an agreement for jointly developing a fuel cell driven turret type platform truck.
The turret type platform truck of about 11,000 are currently used in the markets for perishable food products and factory yards in Japan.
The platform trucks, currently used, are categorized into an engine driven type truck and a battery driven type truck.

The three companies target at the development of a hydrogen supplying method, a system for supplying hydrogen gas by using a cassette filled with hydrogen gas, and a system for filling the car-carried tank with hydrogen gas for a short time.

Photograph: http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/Press/20060911-01.html

TOKYO GAS Co. Ltd.
JFC Container Co., Ltd.
Kanto Noki Co., Ltd.

KHI has developed the GigaCell, with clear intention of coping with the output power variation of the natural-energy based power generation system and the excessive electric power in the distributed power generation system.

GigaCell as the nickel hydrogen battery has mainly the following advantages:
1) The battery capacity is very large (unique structure that plate-like electrodes are stacked.).
2) The charging/discharging speed is very high (its low internal resistance).
3) The poisonous and dangerous materials, such as lead and cadmium, are not used.
4) It is very easy to recycle the used battery (the welding is not used for joining the battery material and the electrodes.
5) The size is small and the weight is light compared to other types of batteries when the same amount of charge is stored into the batteries.

KHI has succeeded in the test run of the battery-driven streetcar (SWIMO) using a nickel hydrogen battery (GigaCell).
The test run conducted in the site of the Hyogo factory of KHI.
SWIMO is a light rail vehicle (LRV).
It was confirmed that SWIMO could run continuously 10km or longer (consumed the battery by about 20% of its capacity)
The charging time to store charge required for the SWIMO to run the same distance was about five minutes.
SWIMO may switch its power source between the overhead wires and GigaCell during its run. To run in the electrified section, SWIMO selects the overhead wires, and in the non-electrified section, it selects GigaCell.
Recently the battery driven streetcar is beginning to attract attention as the next generation streetcar.
The company has a plan to construct an experimental vehicle on Autumn 2007 and to start its mass production on Autumn 2008.

METI has disclosed "Proposal on Future Automobile Batteries".
The proposal contains four chapters and contains about 50 total pages, and is prepared by "Study Group on Next Generation Batteries Basically Supporting Next Generation Automobiles". METI has decided to support the development of the "next generation batteries", upon the proposal. The METI's action will be in the line of Advanced Energy Initiative in U.S.A. and CARS21 in Europe.

Chapter I describes "Presence of Serious Restrictive Factors on the Current Fossil Energy" and "Diversification of Automobile Energy Technologies". 52

Chapter II describes "Importance and Potential of Battery Technologies"
The battery technologies are basic technologies for fuel cell vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles. Advancement of those technologies will expand the potential of the next generation vehicles.

Chapter III describes the current status of the technologies in this field in comparison with those in foreign countries, especially western countries, China, and Korea, and a strategy to be employed by the Japanese government.

Chapter IV describes two action plans to develop the next generation vehicle battery. One plan is for research/development and the other is for infrastructure establishment.
The research/development plan contains three phases, phase 1 to phase III.

The phase I continues up to 2010, and is an improvement phase.
In this phase, technical developments are competitively performed in the industrial fields.
Commuter type electric vehicles used for specific purposes and high performance hybrid vehicles are mass produced. The fuel efficiency is improved by about 30%.
The main target is to reduce the production cost.

The phase II continues up to 2015, and is an advanced phase.
In this phase, practical development is performed based on the basic studies.
Commuter type electric vehicles (cruising distance: 150km, four passengers), and plug-in hybrid vehicles are mass produced.
The main target is to remarkably improve the battery performances.
The battery performances required in this phase are: the energy density is about 1.5 times of the present one, and the production cost is about 1/7 of the present cost.

The phase III continues up to 2030 and is an innovation phase.
In this phase, basic research activities are performed for the future.
The target is to mass produce real electric vehicles

The cruising distance is about 500km on one charge. The energy density of the battery is 7 times of the present density, and the production cost is 1/40 of the present cost.

To learn more the proposal, please contact us.

August 30, 2006

The hydrogen gas sensor, currently used, is generally categorized into a hydrogen gas sensor of the contact burning type and a hydrogen gas sensor of the semiconductor type.
A sensing range of the contact burning type hydrogen gas sensor is1000ppm to several percents. This type hydrogen gas sensor has a high sensitivity for high hydrogen concentrations, but its sensitivity for low concentrations is considerably low.
The sensing range of the semiconductor type hydrogen gas sensor is within 5000ppm.

The hydrogen gas sensing method employed in the hydrogen gas sensor developed this time is of the thermal electric converting type. This unique gas sensor, which has already been developed by AIST, is based on a combination of "catalyst reaction" + "thermal electric conversion". To be more exact, the sensor includes a thermal electric conversion film and a platinum catalyst film formed on a part of the former. Reaction of hydrogen with the catalyst causes a local temperature difference, and the temperature difference is converted into a voltage signal. A voltage generated by the sensor element per se is used for an electric signal. The result is that the concentration sensing range is broad. The sensing result is little affected by ambient temperature variation and is free from a drift of the sensing result.

As just referred to, the hydrogen gas sensor of the thermal electric converting type has already been developed, but to realize the sensor of low cost and high sensitivity, it has been required to develop sensor size reduction, integration and micro-heater technologies.

To this end, a micro-sensor element manufacturing technology has been developed which forms a thermal electric converting film, a catalyst film, electrodes/wiring, and heaters, each taking the form of a thin film, on a silicon wafer (see Fig. 1).

A thin film pattern technology has also been developed which forms an SiGe film by sputtering vapor deposition process, and thermally treats the resultant film (element technology of the thermal electric conversion device).
The SiGe thermal electric conversion material has a good thermal electric transducing property, and is well adaptable for the silicon process.

The catalyst was kept at 100 degrees Celsius to eliminate the adverse effects from the vapor in the air and to secure stable operation.

A micro-heater, excellent in thermal shielding, was developed by utilizing the MEMS technology (heater integrating technology to keep the catalyst temperature).

The thermal electric conversion pattern, the micro-heater, and the catalyst were integrated into a membrane of about 1 x 1mm square to thereby complete a micro thermal electric conversion type hydrogen sensor chip of 4 x 4mm (Fig. 1).
A hydrogen sensing performance of the micro-sensor element into which high performance ceramics catalyst material is integrated was remarkably enhanced.
The greatest advantage of the ceramics carrying platinum catalyst is the durability.

The micro thermal electric conversion type hydrogen sensor thus constructed was continuously operated in at room temperature and about 65 percents of relative humidity.
The response characteristics for hydrogen concentrations of 100ppm, 1000ppm, and1 percent were evaluated for three months. It was confirmed that the sensor performances were satisfactorily stable.

The micro-sensor is integrated into the silicon substrate by using a normal semiconductor process. With this feature, in future, an electronic circuit for processing sensor output signals could be easily integrated. This leads to easy realizing of size reduction and cost reduction by mass production.

Note: The above description is a brief summary of "Press Release" by AIST. The technical facts described are all the publicly disclosed ones. If you want to more know about the technologies, please mail to: chubu-kouhou@m.aist.go.jp.

Photograph and graph are presented again for ease of reading.
Photograph and graph:
http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_j/press_release/pr2006/pr20060823/pr20060823.html

Fig. 1 : Micro-element developed
Graph:
Ordinate = voltage signal,
Abscissa = hydrogen concentration (in the air)
Curve (upper) = micro thermal electric type hydrogen sensor,
Curve (lower) = conventional hydrogen sensor of the same type

Related news: 1) Ball SAW Sensor : http://www.fcpat-japan.com/TechDetails.html
2) 45-4 : World's Fast and Most Creative Hydrogen Sensor - Ball SAW Sensor:
http://www.fcpat-japan.com/Oldnews2006-1.html

August 26, 2006

52-3
Kyushu Electric Power & Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also Start to Develop Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (SUARU) has licensed the LiC technologies to two Japanese companies. The lithium ion battery (LiB) and the lithium ion capacitor (LiC), which have been developed by SUARU, have reached practical use levels, and SUBARU expects that the licensees will successfully develop mass production technologies of LiCs.
SUBARU is also developing an electric vehicle in cooperation with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO.), and unveiled prototype electric vehicles to be used by TEPCO. (see 50-10 Electric Car for Business Use
(http://www.fcpat-japan.com/Oldnews2006-2.html))

Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. starts to develop a power battery for electric vehicles, in cooperation with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
The electric vehicle battery to be developed is based on the lithium battery for power storage, which is being developed by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc..
The battery size will be 16cm high x 10cm wide x 4cm thick.
The vehicle trafficable distance by the battery is about two times of that by the battery currently used. It is said that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has decided to accept samples of the battery and to conduct demonstration tests. [Sources: Yomiuri and Kyodo]

The lithium ion capacitor developed by SUBARU is a large-capacity capacitor having remarkably increased energy density. The capacitor is capable of rapidly charging/discharging large electricity and has high durability.
A carbon material capable of occluding lithium ions, newly developed, is used for the negative electrode. A capacity of the negative electrode is increased by using a new and unique technology, called "pre-doping", which pre-stores a large amount of lithium ions in the negative electrode. It is said that appropriate combinations of the LiC technology with a new material positive electrode, which is found in the recent electric double layer capacitor, could produce further larger energy density.

SUBARU has licensed the LiC technologies to Nihon Micro Coating Co., Ltd. in the early of February this year, and to Shoei Electronics Co., Ltd. on later June this year. The license agreements are onerous agreements. Under the agreements, those companies are permitted to research and develop, and manufacture the capacitor by using the technology of SUBARU, and to use and sell the capacitor for a specific period of time (5 years for Nihon Micro Coating, and 10 years for Shoei Electronics) in the areas inside and outside Japan.

Nihon Micro Coating Co., Ltd. :
The company has developed a coating technology to highly accurately coat the current collector foil of the LiC with an electrode material, and has manufactured the LiCs of SUBARU under contraction.
In "SUPERCONDUCTIVITY FOR ELECTORIC SYSTEMS 2006 ANNUAL PEER REVIEW", July 26 to 27, 2006, sponsored by DOE (U.S.A. Department of Energy), the polishing technology of MIPOX was evaluated by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The surface control technology of MIPOX was highly evaluated as a new surface treatment process for the metal tape, which is one of the materials which determines superconductivity capability. For more details, see
http://www.mipox.co.jp/mipox_technicalsite/jp/technology_release/pdf/
Lanl_superconductor(06.08)/LANL%20IBAD%20PR06_060726(MIPOX).pdf

Shoei Electronics Co., Ltd.:
Shoei Electronics Co., Ltd. is manufacturing and selling "PAS Capacitor" using a polyacene electrode and "PAS-L Capacitor" using lithium ions. The company has the top share in the world market of the coin type memory backup.
The license agreement enables the company to manufacture the LiCs ranging from medium size (several tens farads) to large size (several thousands farads).
The company announced that the cylindrical type lithium ion capacitor has successfully developed and its practical use is in sight, at the time near the signing of the license agreement.
Three types of the LiCs developed are 1) LiC = 40F (capacity), and 12.5mm in diameter and 5mm in height, 2) LiC = 100F(capacity), and = 18mm in diameter and 40mm in height, and 3) LiC = 200F (capacity), and 25mm in diameter and 40mm in height. The energy density is approximately 15WH/L. This figure is the highest in the world of the cylindrical lithium ion capacitor. The company has a plan to start the sample delivery of the LiCs from October this year, and to start mass production of them at the end of this year (2006).

Related links:
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. = SUBARU)
http://www.fhi.co.jp/about/english/index.html
Tokyo Electric Power Company
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html
Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.
http://www1.kyuden.co.jp/en_index
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
http://www.mhi.co.jp/indexe.html
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/
Nihon Micro Coating Co., Ltd.
http://www.mipox.co.jp/en/index.html
Shoei Electronics Co., Ltd.
http://www.u-shoei.co.jp/
The Yomiuri Shimbun
http://job.yomiuri.co.jp/news/jo_ne_06080318.cfm
Kyodo News
http://www.kyodo.co.jp/

At present, the current lithium ion battery fails to satisfy the increasing power consumption by the enhancing mobile phone. There is a strong dissatisfaction of the users. It is a fact that the current fuel cell technology cannot satisfy the current urgent demand. In this situation, it seems that the carrier makers are exploring the combination of the lithium battery and the fuel cell as a practical solution.

We found two patent applications, which seem to relate to the hydrogen generator used in the recharger, the applicant of which is Nitto Denko Corporation from which Aquafairy spined off.
Rough translation of the abstracts of those patent applications is presented here.
After about two months, the formal translation of them will be available from the database of JPO (Japanese patent office).
JPO database = http://www19.ipdl.ncipi.go.jp/PA1/cgi-bin/PA1INIT?1110273917234

1. Porous Material for Hydrogen Generation
Photograph: http://www1.ipdl.ncipi.go.jp/FP1/cgi-bin/FP1DETAIL

Problem to be Solved: To provide a porous material for hydrogen generation which has a larger hydrogen generation capability than the conventional one, and a method for manufacturing the porous material.
Solution: A method of manufacturing a porous material for hydrogen generation comprising the steps of: binding particulate raw materials containing nanoparticles of iron oxide by pressing said particulate raw materials under pressure; and reducing said bound iron oxide nanoparticles.

Claims:
1. A method of manufacturing a porous material for hydrogen generation comprising the steps of:
binding particulate raw materials containing nanoparticles of iron oxide by pressing said particulate raw materials under pressure; and
reducing said bound iron oxide nanoparticles.
2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein said pressure pressing process is carried out at 600 to 2500MPa.
3. A porous material for hydrogen generation in which flattened nanoiron particles are bound together and a gap of 30 to 70% is formed among adjacent nanoparticles.
4. The porous material according to claim 3, wherein said porous material takes a plate-like shape, and said nanoiron particles are needle-like crystals flattened in thickness direction.

2. Hydrogen Generating Apparatus and Method
Drawing: http://www1.ipdl.ncipi.go.jp/FP1/cgi-bin/FP1DETAIL

Problem to be Solved: To provide a hydrogen generating apparatus and method in which an amount of generated hydrogen, which is larger than the conventional one by a predetermined amount or larger, is maintained for a long time, and hence, when it is used for fuel cells, the hydrogen is efficiently utilized.
Solution: A hydrogen generating apparatus comprising a reaction container 2 for containing a hydrogen generator 1, containing nanoiron, which reacts with water or steam to generate hydrogen, and supplying means for intermittently supplying water or steam to said reaction container 2.

Claims:
1. A hyrogen generating apparatus comprising:
a reaction container for containing a hydrogen gene