Patent ID: 6805985
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: B82Y,C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell comprising:a) a first electrode having a catalyst for generating hydrogen; b) a storage material comprising a hydrogen storing alloy effective for capturing and storing the hydrogen generated at said first electrode; c) a separation membrane between said storage material and said first electrode that essentially prevents said storage material from being corroded; d) a second electrode having a catalyst for generating oxygen, said second electrode being provided while allowed to be in contact with water, and e) a proton conductive electrolyte membrane having a proton conductor produced by introducing proton dissociative groups into a base body comprising a carbonaceous material containing carbon as a main component, said electrolyte membrane being provided between said first electrode and second electrode, wherein, when a negative voltage is applied to said first electrode and a positive voltage is applied to said second electrode, oxygen, protons and electrons are generated from water in the presence of said catalyst at said second electrode, and hydrogen is generated from the protons and the electrons in the presence of said catalyst at said first electrode.