Patent · US Active

Fuel cell, and power supply device and electronic apparatus using the same

US8956772B2 · kind B2 · utility

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1References
13Claims
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Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 2008
Grant dateFeb 17, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

To provide a fuel cell that can perform efficient power generation through a simple fuel supply. There is provided a fuel cell that generates electricity through progress of an oxidation-reduction reaction using an enzyme as a catalyst, the fuel cell including at least a fuel-vaporizing layer formed through vaporization of a fuel; an anode to which a vaporized fuel is supplied from the fuel-vaporizing layer; and a cathode connected to the anode in a state in which protons can be conducted. In the fuel cell, since a fuel is supplied to an electrode in a vaporized state, a vaporized fuel is supplied to an inner portion of the electrode and a reaction sufficiently proceeds at the inner surface of the electrode, which can achieve high output due to efficient power generation. Furthermore, even if an enzyme or the like is immobilized on an electrode, the enzyme or the like can be prevented from leaching out into a liquid fuel because a fuel is supplied to the electrode in a vaporized state, which can prevent a decrease in the output caused by leaching out of the enzyme or the like.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.