Fuel cell

• US 20040121197A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Horiuchi, Michio, Suganuma, Shigeaki, Fukasawa, Ryo, Watanabe, Misa
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8605 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/10 Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A single chamber fuel cell comprised of a cell arranged in a mixed fuel gas comprised of hydrogen or another fuel gas and oxygen, wherein the cell used is a pn junction type semiconductor having electrodes of a p-type semiconductor with carriers of holes and an n-type semiconductor with carriers of electrons connected to ends of electrical takeout wires, and each of the p-type semiconductor and n-type semiconductor is formed porous to an extent enabling the mixed fuel gas to pass.

Claims

1. A single chamber fuel cell comprised of a cell arranged in a mixed fuel gas comprised of hydrogen or another fuel gas and oxygen, wherein

said cell used is a pn junction type semiconductor having electrodes of a p-type semiconductor with carriers of holes and an n-type semiconductor with carriers of electrons connected to ends of electrical takeout wires, and

each of said p-type semiconductor and n-type semiconductor is formed porous to an extent enabling said mixed fuel gas to pass.

2. A fuel cell as set forth in claim 1, wherein said p-type semiconductor and n-type semiconductor are provided between them with a porous pn mixed layer formed by particles of said p-type semiconductor and particles of said n-type semiconductor mixed together to an extent enabling mixed fuel gas to pass.

3. A fuel cell as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pn mixed layer includes an oxidation catalyst.