Development of energy and environmentally related technologies, such as generating clean energy or purifying exhaust gas, are crucial for sustainable growth in future generations of human society. Asahi Glass develops new materials, devices and systems to secure a clean environment.

Someone wondered if it would be possible, at the heart of a fuel cell, to use Asahi Glass Flemion^®, a fluoropolymer ion-exchange membrane for chloro-alkali electrolysis. Delving more deeply into this suggestion we found we had a capable electrolytic ion-exchange membrane and have since made progress developing the electrode material and the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA). The PEFC system for automotive application still has some problems to be solved. Above all, being able to operate stably in low humidity and at high temperatures of over 100 degrees Celsius is regarded to be one of the most critical issues. In order to solve this problem, Asahi Glass has been conducting R&D efforts, focusing on the development of highly durable polymer composites with highly thermo-stable fluorine-based ion-exchange polymers and the optimization of the MEA structure. The newly developed MEA allows continuous operation for over 4,000 hours at a high temperature of 120 degrees Celsius for the first time in the world using a fluorine-based MEA.

Membrane-Electrode Assembly (MEA)

For TCO (transparent conducting oxide) films to fulfill their potential to increase conversion efficiency they really have to satisfy three conditions: advanced light trapping; high transparency; and low resistance. Asahi Glass solved these problems with our TCO for amorphous silicon solar cells. We deposited a surface film to achieve a control, textured surface that traps light. With exceptional composition design and process control, high efficiency and durability are realized. And use of continuous CVD equipment enables the processing of larger substrates at lower cost. This promising technology is suitable for residential rooftop solar generating systems or in installations on the walls of commercial buildings.

With long cycle life and low self-discharge characteristics, high power discharging and rapid charging capabilities, our electric double layer capacitors solve, in an environmentally friendly way, many of the previously intractable problems associated with conventional storage batteries. We achieved this high-power electrical-storage capacitor, with capacitance of several thousand farads, by using a special activated carbon material with extremely large surface area--a single gram provides several thousand square meters. These capacitors are able to offer both high current discharging (over 100A) and rapid re-charging within tens of seconds.
The charge storage is based on electrostatic phenomena occurring on the interface between an activated carbon electrode and an electrolyte solution. We used a proprietary organic electrolyte with low resistance and excellent stability. It sustains more than a million charge discharge cycles.

Ultra-high power electric double layer capacitors
We succeeded in making this high power and high energy-density device because, along with skill in designing inorganic and organic materials, we have expertise in designing activated carbon materials for electrodes and in electrode-forming technology. Many see great promise for this device in applications such as regenerative power storage for hybrid electric vehicles and load buffering for distributed power generators.

Operating principle
When a DC voltage is applied to a pair of electrodes that are immersed in an ion-containing electrolyte, it causes migration of different species of ions in the electrostatic field near the electrode interface, where a space charge layer forms. This space charge layer is the electric double layer. The device is called an electric double layer capacitor because it works on the principle of charge storage in this charged layer.

Diesel engine exhaust (particulate matter) is one of the most crucial environmental problems calling for urgent solution.
Asahi Glass successfully developed a new type of ceramic filter using an original porous, low-thermal-expansion ceramic material. This innovative material is tailored to exhibit excellent heat, thermal shock and corrosion resistance, as well as possessing well-controlled pore structure resulting in high particulate trapping efficiency (over 98%).
We continually take up the challenges of developing materials and systems for higher performance filters.

Diesel particulate filter system, Ecosafe
Ecosafe is a ceramic filtering system for the exhaust from fixed diesel engines. A low-thermal-expansion cordierite ceramic filter provides high thermal shock and corrosion resistance. A unique reverse jet cleaning technology contributes to reliable and efficient soot trapping.