JP2016058161A - Electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with resin frame for fuel cells - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is capable of reliably removing air from an adhesive layer with a simple configuration, and making it possible to bond an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and a resin frame member firmly and with high quality. A resin frame-attached electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 includes a peripheral edge 28e between a step MEA 10a and a resin frame member 24 at a portion where the outer peripheral edge of the step MEA 10a contacts the resin frame member 24. An adhesive layer 28 is provided. The outer peripheral end 18e of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 forms a gap S1 between the outer peripheral end 28e in the adhesive layer 28, and the inner periphery of the adhesive layer 28 is larger than the inner periphery of the gap S1. Adhesive 28a is disposed on the side. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell, comprising: a step MEA having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode; and a resin frame member that goes around the outer periphery of the step MEA. About.

  In general, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs a polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane. The fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) in which an anode electrode is disposed on one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode electrode is disposed on the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The anode electrode and the cathode electrode each have a catalyst layer (electrode catalyst layer) and a gas diffusion layer (porous carbon).

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure is sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates) to constitute a fuel cell. This fuel cell is used as, for example, an in-vehicle fuel cell stack by stacking a predetermined number of fuel cells.

  In the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, one gas diffusion layer is set to a plane size smaller than that of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and the other gas diffusion layer is set to the same plane size as the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. In other words, a so-called step MEA may be formed. At that time, in order to reduce the amount of the relatively expensive solid polymer electrolyte membrane used and to protect the solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a thin film shape and low strength, an MEA with a resin frame incorporating a resin frame member is adopted. Has been.

  In the MEA with a resin frame, it is necessary to maintain a good bonding strength between the step MEA and the resin frame member in order to prevent the solid polymer electrolyte membrane from being cracked or sheared. For example, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell (MEA with a resin frame) disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

  In this MEA with a resin frame, the resin frame member has an inner peripheral end portion that protrudes toward the outer peripheral side of the first electrode and contacts the outer peripheral edge portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. And the corner | angular part arrange | positioned in the inner peripheral edge part at the boundary part of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the outer peripheral part of a 1st electrode is comprised by the cross-sectional curved surface shape. Therefore, with a simple configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent the solid polymer electrolyte membrane from being subjected to shear stress, and to satisfactorily suppress damage to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

JP2013-98155A

  By the way, the step MEA and the resin frame member are bonded together by, for example, filling a space (adhesive layer) formed between them with various adhesives in addition to the hot melt adhesive. Specifically, the adhesive is arranged in a part of the adhesive layer, and the step MEA and the resin frame member are pressed to spread the adhesive to fill the entire adhesive layer. Yes.

  However, the adhesive layer often forms a sealed space, and when the adhesive is spread in the adhesive layer, air may not escape from the adhesive layer. As a result, due to the air remaining in the adhesive layer, the adhesive cannot be applied to a uniform thickness, and there is a problem that a large variation occurs in quality such as gas barrier properties and adhesion durability.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and with a simple configuration, air can be reliably removed from the adhesive layer, and the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and the resin frame member are strong and high quality. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell that can be bonded to a fuel cell.

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell according to the present invention includes a step MEA and a resin frame member. In the step MEA, a first electrode is provided on one surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode is provided on the other surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The planar dimension of the first electrode is set to be larger than the planar dimension of the second electrode. The resin frame member is provided around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

  Between the step MEA and the resin frame member, an adhesive layer is provided with a portion where the outer peripheral edge of the step MEA is in contact with the resin frame member as an outer peripheral end. And at least a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane forms a gap between the outer peripheral end in the adhesive layer, and in the adhesive layer, the inner peripheral side of the gap An adhesive is disposed at a distance.

  In the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell, it is preferable that a gap is provided between the outer periphery and the entire circumference of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

  Further, in the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell, a recess may be provided in a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a gap may be provided between the recess and the outer peripheral end. preferable.

  Furthermore, in this electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for fuel cells, the concave portion is provided in a portion corresponding to a portion where the thickness of the resin frame member is relatively thin in the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. It is preferred that

  According to the present invention, the adhesive disposed in the inner portion of the adhesive layer is stretched when the resin frame member and the step MEA are brought into close contact with each other, and flows to the outer end side of the adhesive layer. Here, the air in the adhesive layer moves to the outer end side along the flow of the adhesive, and enters a gap formed between the outer end and at least a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. be introduced. Then, the air is exhausted from the gap to the first electrode side.

  For this reason, it is possible to reliably remove air from the adhesive layer with a simple configuration. Therefore, the adhesive can be applied in a uniform thickness within the adhesive layer, and variations in quality such as gas barrier properties and adhesion durability can be suppressed. Thereby, it becomes possible to join the step MEA and the resin frame member firmly and with high quality.

It is a principal part disassembled perspective explanatory view of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the resin membrane-attached electrolyte membrane / electrode structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fuel cell taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. It is principal part cross-sectional explanatory drawing of the said electrolyte membrane and electrode structure with a resin frame. It is front explanatory drawing of the level | step difference MEA which comprises the said electrolyte membrane and electrode structure with a resin frame. It is a perspective explanatory view of the resin frame member which constitutes the resin membrane-attached electrolyte membrane electrode structure. It is explanatory drawing of the method to manufacture the said electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame. It is explanatory drawing of the method to manufacture the said electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame. It is principal part cross-sectional explanatory drawing of the electrolyte membrane and electrode structure with a resin frame which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is perspective explanatory drawing of the level | step difference MEA which comprises the said electrolyte membrane and electrode structure with a resin frame. It is front explanatory drawing of the said level | step difference MEA. It is principal part cross-sectional explanatory drawing of the electrolyte membrane and electrode structure with a resin frame which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a resin frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated into a horizontally long (or vertically long) rectangular polymer electrolyte fuel cell 12. It is. The plurality of fuel cells 12 are stacked in, for example, an arrow A direction (horizontal direction) or an arrow C direction (gravity direction) to form a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is mounted on, for example, a fuel cell electric vehicle (not shown) as an in-vehicle fuel cell stack.

  In the fuel cell 12, the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a resin frame is sandwiched between the first separator 14 and the second separator 16. The first separator 14 and the second separator 16 have a horizontally long (or vertically long) rectangular shape. The first separator 14 and the second separator 16 are made of, for example, a steel plate, a stainless steel plate, an aluminum plate, a plating-treated steel plate, a metal plate whose surface is subjected to anticorrosion treatment, a carbon member, or the like.

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a rectangular resin frame includes a step MEA 10a as shown in FIGS. The step MEA 10a includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (cation exchange membrane) 18 in which a perfluorosulfonic acid thin film is impregnated with water, and an anode electrode (first electrode) 20 sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. And a cathode electrode (second electrode) 22. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 may use an HC (hydrocarbon) based electrolyte in addition to the fluorine based electrolyte.

  The cathode electrode 22 has a smaller planar dimension than the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 and the anode electrode 20. Instead of the above configuration, the anode electrode 20 may be configured to have a smaller planar dimension than the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 and the cathode electrode 22. At that time, the anode electrode 20 becomes the second electrode, and the cathode electrode 22 becomes the first electrode.

  The anode electrode 20 includes a first electrode catalyst layer 20a joined to one surface 18a of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18, and a first gas diffusion layer 20b laminated on the first electrode catalyst layer 20a. The first electrode catalyst layer 20 a and the first gas diffusion layer 20 b have the same outer dimensions, and are set to be larger than the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer peripheral end 20 ae of the first electrode catalyst layer 20 a and the outer peripheral end 20 be of the first gas diffusion layer 20 b are terminated at the same position and the outer peripheral end of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. The dimension is set larger than that of the portion 18e. As shown in FIG. 4, gaps S are formed between the four sides of the outer peripheral end 18e of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 and the outer peripheral ends 20ae and 20be.

  The cathode electrode 22 includes a second electrode catalyst layer 22a bonded to the surface 18b of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18, and a second gas diffusion layer 22b stacked on the second electrode catalyst layer 22a. The second electrode catalyst layer 22 a and the second gas diffusion layer 22 b have the same outer dimensions and are set to be smaller than the outer dimensions of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18.

  In the first embodiment, the second electrode catalyst layer 22a and the second gas diffusion layer 22b are set to have the same planar dimension. However, the planar dimension of the second electrode catalyst layer 22a is the first dimension. You may have a dimension (or small dimension) larger than the plane dimension of 2 gas diffusion layer 22b.

  The first electrode catalyst layer 20a is formed, for example, by uniformly applying porous carbon particles having a platinum alloy supported on the surface thereof to the surface of the first gas diffusion layer 20b. The second electrode catalyst layer 22a is formed, for example, by uniformly applying porous carbon particles carrying a platinum alloy on the surface thereof to the surface of the second gas diffusion layer 22b. The first gas diffusion layer 20b and the second gas diffusion layer 22b are made of carbon paper, carbon cloth, or the like, and the planar dimension of the second gas diffusion layer 22b is smaller than the planar dimension of the first gas diffusion layer 20b. Is set. The first electrode catalyst layer 20a and the second electrode catalyst layer 22a are formed on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18, for example.

  The resin membrane-attached electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 includes a resin frame member 24 that circulates around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 and is joined to the anode electrode 20 and the cathode electrode 22. The resin frame member 24 includes, for example, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PPA (polyphthalamide), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PES (polyethersulfone), LCP (liquid crystal polymer), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), It is composed of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber), modified polyolefin or m-PPE (modified polyphenylene ether resin).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the resin frame member 24 has a frame shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the resin frame member 24 has an inner bulging portion 24 a formed in a thin shape that bulges from the inner peripheral base end portion 24 s to the cathode electrode 22 side. The inner bulging portion 24a extends from the inner peripheral base end portion 24s inward (in the direction of arrow C) to have a predetermined length, and extends from the outer peripheral edge portion 18bt of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 to the second electrode catalyst layer 22a. And it arrange | positions in the vicinity of outer peripheral edge part 22ae and 22be of the 2nd gas diffusion layer 22b. The outer peripheral edge 18bt of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 is exposed outward in the plane direction from the tip of the cathode electrode 22.

  The inner bulging portion 24a is continuous with the inner peripheral base end portion 24s, and is a convex portion that contacts the outer peripheral edge portion of the step MEA 10a, specifically, the distal end side of the first electrode catalyst layer 20a constituting the anode electrode 20. 26a is provided. The convex portion 26a is formed in a frame shape that goes around the tip side of the first electrode catalyst layer 20a. A flat surface portion 26b formed thinner than the convex portion 26a via a step portion 26ae is provided at an inner end portion of the convex portion 26a, and the flat surface portion 26b is formed on the inner side from the convex portion 26a. It extends to the inner peripheral end 24ae of the bulging portion 24a.

  An adhesive layer 28 filled with an adhesive 28 a is provided between the step MEA 10 a and the resin frame member 24. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an adhesive layer 28 is provided between the outer peripheral edge portion 18 bt of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 and the flat surface portion 26 b of the resin frame member 24.

  In the first embodiment, at least a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 is within the adhesive layer 28 over the entire outer periphery end portion 18e (outermost periphery) of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. Thus, a gap S1 is formed between the outer peripheral end 28e (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In the adhesive layer 28, an adhesive 28 a is disposed so as to be separated from the gap S 1 on the inner peripheral side.

  For example, a polymer or a fluorine-based elastomer is provided on the adhesive layer 28 as the adhesive 28a. The adhesive 28a is not limited to liquid, solid, thermoplasticity, thermosetting, or the like.

  The resin frame member 24 and the first gas diffusion layer 20b of the anode electrode 20 are integrated by a resin impregnated portion 30 using an adhesive resin. The resin-impregnated portion 30 can be configured by, for example, heat-deforming a resin protrusion 30t that is integrally formed with the resin frame member 24. The resin impregnated portion 30 may use an adhesive 28 a in the same manner as the adhesive layer 28.

  As shown in FIG. 1, one end edge of the fuel cell 12 in the direction of arrow B (horizontal direction in FIG. 1) communicates with each other in the direction of arrow A, which is the stacking direction. A cooling medium inlet communication hole 42a and a fuel gas outlet communication hole 44b are provided. The oxidant gas inlet communication hole 40a supplies an oxidant gas, for example, an oxygen-containing gas, while the cooling medium inlet communication hole 42a supplies a cooling medium. The fuel gas outlet communication hole 44b discharges a fuel gas, for example, a hydrogen-containing gas. The oxidant gas inlet communication hole 40a, the cooling medium inlet communication hole 42a, and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 44b are arranged in an arrow C direction (vertical direction).

  The other end edge of the fuel cell 12 in the direction of arrow B communicates with each other in the direction of arrow A, the fuel gas inlet communication hole 44a for supplying fuel gas, the cooling medium outlet communication hole 42b for discharging the cooling medium, and the oxidation An oxidizing gas outlet communication hole 40b for discharging the oxidizing gas is provided. The fuel gas inlet communication hole 44a, the cooling medium outlet communication hole 42b, and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 40b are arranged in the direction of arrow C.

  An oxidant gas flow path 46 communicating with the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 40a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 40b is provided on the surface 16a of the second separator 16 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a resin frame. .

  A fuel gas passage 48 communicating with the fuel gas inlet communication hole 44a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 44b is formed on the surface 14a of the first separator 14 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a resin frame. A cooling medium flow path 50 communicating with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 42a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 42b is formed between the surface 14b of the first separator 14 and the surface 16b of the second separator 16 adjacent to each other. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first seal member 52 is integrated with the surfaces 14 a and 14 b of the first separator 14 around the outer peripheral end of the first separator 14. The second seal member 54 is integrated with the surfaces 16 a and 16 b of the second separator 16 around the outer peripheral end of the second separator 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first seal member 52 includes a first convex seal 52 a that contacts the resin frame member 24 constituting the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a resin frame, and a second seal of the second separator 16. And a second convex seal 52b that contacts the member 54. The second seal member 54 constitutes a flat seal in which a surface that contacts the second convex seal 52b extends in a flat shape along the separator surface. Instead of the second convex seal 52b, the second seal member 54 may be provided with a convex seal (not shown).

  For the first seal member 52 and the second seal member 54, for example, EPDM, NBR, fluoro rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber, chloroprene or acrylic rubber or the like, cushion material Alternatively, an elastic seal member such as a packing material is used.

  Next, a method for producing the resin frame-attached electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 will be described below.

  First, the step MEA 10a is manufactured, while the resin frame member 24 is injection-molded using a mold (not shown). In the step MEA 10a, a first gas diffusion layer 20b and a second gas diffusion layer 22b are formed by applying a slurry made of a mixture of carbon black and PTFE particles on a flat surface of carbon paper and drying to form a base layer. Is formed.

  On the other hand, after adding a solvent to the electrode catalyst, a binder solution is added to prepare a cathode electrode ink and an anode electrode ink. Cathode electrode ink is applied to a PET film by screen printing to form a cathode electrode sheet. Similarly, the anode electrode ink is applied to a PET film by screen printing to form an anode electrode sheet.

  Next, hot pressing is performed in a state where the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 is sandwiched between the cathode electrode sheet and the anode electrode sheet, and then the PET film is peeled to form a joined body (CCM). Further, the CCM is sandwiched between the first gas diffusion layer 20b and the second gas diffusion layer 22b and integrated by hot pressing to form the step MEA 10a.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the resin frame member 24 has a thin inner bulging portion 24a. The inner bulging portion 24a is provided with a convex portion 26a continuous to the inner peripheral base end portion 24s, and is formed thinner at the inner end portion of the convex portion 26a than the convex portion 26a. A flat surface portion 26b is provided. Note that a resin protrusion 30t shown in FIG. 2 is integrally formed on the resin frame member 24 as necessary.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the resin frame member 24 has an adhesive 28a on the flat surface portion 26b of the inner bulging portion 24a corresponding to the inner portion of the adhesive layer 28, for example, a dispenser (not shown). It is applied via. The arrangement position of the adhesive 28 a is set at least at a position inside the outer peripheral end 18 e of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. Further, the inner peripheral base end 24s of the resin frame member 24 and the outer peripheral end 20be of the first gas diffusion layer 20b constituting the step MEA 10a are aligned.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the adhesive 28a is heated and a load (press or the like) is applied in the thickness direction. For this reason, the adhesive 28a is pressurized and melted, and the inside of the adhesive layer 28 is extended from the inside toward the outside. Therefore, the inner bulging portion 24 a of the resin frame member 24 and the outer peripheral edge portion 18 bt of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 are bonded via the adhesive layer 28.

  Further, the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral end 24 ae of the resin frame member 24 and the front end surface of the outer peripheral end 22 be of the second gas diffusion layer 22 b are bonded via an adhesive layer 28. On the other hand, the resin frame member 24 and the first gas diffusion layer 20 b of the anode electrode 20 are integrated by the resin impregnated portion 30. Therefore, the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10 with a resin frame is manufactured.

  In this case, in the first embodiment, a gap S <b> 1 is formed between the outer peripheral end 28 e in the adhesive layer 28 over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral end 18 e of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. For this reason, when the adhesive 28a flows outside the adhesive layer 28, the air in the adhesive layer 28 moves outward along the flow of the adhesive 28a. The air is exhausted to the anode electrode 20 exposed in the gap S1, while the adhesive 28a does not leak into the anode electrode 20.

  Therefore, air can be reliably removed from the adhesive layer 28 with a simple configuration, and the adhesive 28a can be applied to the adhesive layer 28 with a uniform thickness. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of variations in quality such as gas barrier properties and adhesion durability, and it is possible to join the step MEA 10a and the resin frame member 24 firmly and with high quality. can get.

  The operation of the fuel cell 12 configured as described above will be described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, an oxidant gas such as an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 40a, and a fuel gas such as a hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 44a. Supplied. Further, a cooling medium such as pure water, ethylene glycol, or oil is supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 42a.

  Therefore, the oxidant gas is introduced from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 40a into the oxidant gas flow path 46 of the second separator 16, moves in the direction of arrow B, and is supplied to the cathode electrode 22 of the step MEA 10a. On the other hand, the fuel gas is introduced into the fuel gas channel 48 of the first separator 14 from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 44a. The fuel gas moves in the direction of arrow B along the fuel gas channel 48 and is supplied to the anode electrode 20 of the step MEA 10a.

  Therefore, in each step MEA 10a, the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode 22 and the fuel gas supplied to the anode electrode 20 are electrochemically reacted in the second electrode catalyst layer 22a and the first electrode catalyst layer 20a. It is consumed and power is generated.

  Next, the oxidant gas supplied and consumed to the cathode electrode 22 is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 40b. Similarly, the fuel gas consumed by being supplied to the anode electrode 20 is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the fuel gas outlet communication hole 44b.

  In addition, the cooling medium supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 42 a is introduced into the cooling medium flow path 50 between the first separator 14 and the second separator 16 and then flows in the direction of arrow B. This cooling medium is discharged from the cooling medium outlet communication hole 42b after cooling the step MEA 10a.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a main part of an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 60 with a resin frame according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same referential mark is attached | subjected to the component same as the electrolyte membrane and electrode structure 10 with a resin frame which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 60 with a resin frame is configured by integrating the step MEA 60 a and the resin frame member 24. In the step MEA 60 a, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a plurality of recesses 62 are provided in a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. The concave portion 62 is formed by cutting from the step portion 26ae of the resin frame member 24 to the flat surface portion 26b side, that is, by cutting into the adhesive layer 28, and a gap S2 is provided between the concave portion 62 and the outer peripheral end 28e.

  One or more recesses 62 are provided, and are provided in a portion corresponding to a portion where the thickness of the resin frame member 24 is relatively thin in the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. Specifically, when the resin frame member 24 is injection-molded, a thin-walled portion is formed between the plurality of resin injection portions. For example, each of the solid polymer electrolyte membranes 18 is formed between the resin injection portions. Two recesses 62 are provided on the long side.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, a plurality of recesses 62 communicating with the adhesive layer 28 are provided in a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. Therefore, during the bonding operation using the adhesive 28a, the air in the adhesive layer 28 is introduced into the gap S2 and exhausted to the anode electrode 20 exposed in the gap S2. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of variations in quality such as gas barrier properties and adhesion durability, and it becomes possible to join the step MEA 60a and the resin frame member 24 firmly and with high quality. The same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part of an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 70 with a resin frame according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same referential mark is attached | subjected to the component same as the electrolyte membrane and electrode structure 10 with a resin frame which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 70 with a resin frame includes a step MEA 10 a and a resin frame member 72. The resin frame member 72 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the maximum thickness is set to the thickness of the convex portion 26a.

  The third embodiment configured as described above has advantages that the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments described above can be obtained, and that the resin frame member 72 can be easily reduced in thickness.

10, 60, 70 ... Resin-framed electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 10a, 60a ... Step MEA 12 ... Fuel cell 14, 16 ... Separator 18 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18bt ... Outer peripheral edge 18e, 20ae, 20be, 22ae, 22be ... outer peripheral end 20 ... anode electrode 20a, 22a ... electrode catalyst layer 20b, 22b ... gas diffusion layer 22 ... cathode electrode 24, 72 ... resin frame member 24a ... inner bulging part 24s ... inner peripheral base end part 26a ... convex part 26b ... Flat surface portion 28 ... Adhesive layer 28a ... Adhesive 30t ... Resin protrusion 40a ... Oxidant gas inlet communication hole 40b ... Oxidant gas outlet communication hole 42a ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 42b ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 44a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 44b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 46 ... Oxidant gas flow path 48 ... Fuel gas flow path 50 ... Cooling medium flow path 52, 54 ... Seal member 62 ... concave portion

Claims (4)

A first electrode is provided on one surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a second electrode is provided on the other surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and the planar dimensions of the first electrode are A step MEA set to a dimension larger than the planar dimension of the second electrode;
A resin frame member provided around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane;
An electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell comprising:
Between the step MEA and the resin frame member, an adhesive layer is provided with the outer peripheral edge of the step MEA being in contact with the resin frame member as an outer peripheral end,
At least a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane forms a gap with the outer peripheral end in the adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer has an inner peripheral side with respect to the gap. An electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell, characterized in that an adhesive is disposed apart from each other.   2. The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the gap is provided between the outer periphery and the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell. The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a recess is provided in a part of the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane,
An electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell, wherein the gap is provided between the recess and the outer peripheral end.   4. The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the recess corresponds to a portion where the thickness of the resin frame member is relatively thin in the outermost periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame for a fuel cell, which is provided at a site where

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