Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and method for prudoucing the same

Abstract

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided comprising: a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; a cathode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode; characterized in that the anode and the cathode comprise a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer formed on the gas diffusion layer at the side in contact with the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer has catalyst particles and a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte, and at least either of hydrogen ion conductivity and gas permeability of at least either of the anode and the cathode varies in a thickness direction of the anode or the cathode.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: 
 a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane;    an anode and a cathode sandwiching said hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane;    an anode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to said anode;    a cathode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying an oxidant gas to said cathode; wherein:    said anode and said cathode comprise a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer formed on said gas diffusion layer at the side in contact with said hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, and    said catalyst layer comprises a layer comprising catalyst particles; and a layer, which is not in contact with said hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, comprising a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte.    
     
     
         13 . The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein said catalyst layer comprises said layer comprising said catalyst particles and said layer comprising said hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte that are alternately laminated.  
     
     
         14 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein the amount of catalyst particles contained in the layer comprising catalyst is from 0.005 to 1.0 mg/cm 2  and the amount of hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte contained in the layer comprising a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte is from 0.01 to 4 mg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         15 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein the total number of layers comprising catalyst particles and layers comprising a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte is from 2 to 10.  
     
     
         16 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein the layer comprising catalyst particles contains a carbon powder which is water repellent.  
     
     
         17 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein the porosity of said gas diffusion layer is high at the side of said electroconductive separator and is low at the side of said catalyst layer.  
     
     
         18 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein said gas diffusion layer comprises a plurality of porous conductive base materials each having different porosities.  
     
     
         19 . A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein one side of the gas diffusion layer, which is in contact with the catalyst layer is water repellent.  
     
     
         20 . A consumer co-generation system comprising a fuel cell according to  claim 12 .  
     
     
         21 . A mobile power-generating appliance comprising a fuel cell according to  claim 12.