Fuel Cells, Methods of Using of Using Fuel Cells, Cathodes for Fuel Cells, Electronic Devices, Devices Using Electrode Reactions, and Electrodes for Devices Using Electrode Reactions
First Claim
1. A fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and a proton conductor arranged between the cathode and the anode, wherein the cathode includes an electroconductive and gas-permeable material and an enzyme immobilized on the material, and wherein the fuel cell is so configured as to bring at least part of the cathode into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To provide a fuel cell and a method of using the same, which enable such a reaction environment as to exhibit excellent properties as electrode sufficiently, and to provide a cathode for the fuel cell, a device using an electrode reaction, and an electrode for the device using an electrode reaction. A fuel cell 10 includes an electrolyte solution 7 arranged between a cathode 1 and an anode 5. The cathode 1 includes a porous material made typically of carbon and an immobilized thereon. The fuel cell is so configured as to bring at least part of the cathode 1 into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase. The cathode 1 preferably further includes an immobilized electron-transfer mediator in addition to the enzyme. The reactant in a gaseous phase can be, for example, air or oxygen.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and a proton conductor arranged between the cathode and the anode,
wherein the cathode includes an electroconductive and gas-permeable material and an enzyme immobilized on the material, and wherein the fuel cell is so configured as to bring at least part of the cathode into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase.
-
8. A method of using a fuel cell, the fuel cell including a cathode, an anode, and a proton conductor arranged between the cathode and the anode, the cathode including an electroconductive and gas-permeable material, and an enzyme and an electron-transfer mediator each immobilized on the material, the electron-transfer mediator constituting an electron pool so configured as to store electrons, the fuel cell being so configured as to carry out power generation by bringing at least part of the cathode into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase,
the method comprising the step of feeding electrons from the electron pool to the cathode when a supply of the reactant to the cathode stops, when a supply of the reactant to the cathode decreases, or when an output is to be increased.
- 9. A cathode for a fuel cell, comprising an electroconductive and gas-permeable material and an enzyme immobilized on the material.
-
11. An electronic device comprising a fuel cell, the fuel cell including a cathode, an anode, and a proton conductor arranged between the cathode and the anode,
wherein the cathode of the fuel cell includes an electroconductive and gas-permeable material and an enzyme immobilized on the material, and wherein the electronic device is so configured as to bring at least part of the cathode into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase.
-
12. A device using an electrode reaction, comprising a pair of electrodes,
wherein one of the pair of electrodes includes an electroconductive and gas-permeable material and an enzyme immobilized on the material, and wherein the device is so configured as to bring at least part of the one electrode into contact with a reactant in a gaseous phase.
-
15. An electrode for a device using an electrode reaction, comprising an electroconductive and gas-permeable material and an enzyme immobilized on the material.
Specification