Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly with a frame at a peripheral portion, and a separator disposed on both sides of the frame and the membrane electrode assembly. A protrusion and a counterpart groove where a tip of the protrusion is inserted are respectively formed on portions of the frame and the separator facing each other, and the tip of the protrusion is immersed in an adhesive that is injected in the groove such that the groove and the protrusion are joined to each other. A room is formed between the frame and the separator on the groove at least at a side of the protrusion closer to the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers joined on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and a pair of separators disposed at both sides of the membrane electrode assembly to respectively form gas flow spaces where two types of power generation gases flow. An electrically conductive porous substrate folded in a corrugated shape is disposed in at least one of the gas flow spaces defined on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly, and a gas flow space in which the electrically conductive porous substrate is disposed is divided into a plurality of gas flow paths substantially parallel to a flow direction of the power generation gases.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a plurality of laminated cell units, with each of the cell units including a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between two separators, and cooling fluid passage channels are formed between each adjacent cell units for flowing cooling fluid. Displacement absorbing members have a plurality of displacement absorbing projections that absorb displacement along a laminated direction of the cell unit and are provided in the cooling fluid passage channels. The displacement absorbing projections of the displacement absorbing members are disposed so as to cancel out any bending moments generated on the cell unit.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is a membrane electrode assembly in which a first porous body is stacked on a surface of a catalyst layer and a second porous body is stacked on the first porous body. The first porous body has a low porosity at portions in contact with solid-phase portions of the second porous body, and has a relatively high porosity at portions facing gas-phase portions of the second porous body.

Abstract: A single fuel cell, a plurality of which are to be stacked to form a fuel cell stack, includes a membrane electrode assembly having a structure including paired electrode layers and an electrolyte membrane held between the paired electrode layers, paired separators each forming a gas passage between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly, and a displacement absorber having a conductive property and interposed between one separator of the single fuel cell and an adjacent-side separator of another single fuel cell to be stacked adjacent to the single fuel cell. The displacement absorber is connected to at least any one of the separators.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes cell units stacked on one another and each including a membrane electrode assembly and two separators defining gas passages on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly, a cooling fluid passage for flowing a cooling fluid provided between the separators of each adjacent two of the cell units, and a displacement absorber provided in the cooling fluid passage. The displacement absorber includes elastic protrusions provided in an array and configured to elastically absorb a displacement of the cell units in a stack direction, and flow-spread preventing protrusions provided in an array and configured to prevent the cooling fluid from flowing out of an active area.

Abstract: An air battery for use by being stacked in a battery pack has a cathode constituting member and an anode material adapted such that at least a part of the anode material is brought into direct contact with a cathode constituting member of another air battery. In this configuration, it is possible to eliminate the need to use an anode cap for sealing on the anode side and thereby possible to achieve not only reduction in weight and size but also reduction in cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell including a support which is made of a metal porous base material and disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and at least either of first ribs and second ribs. Contact surfaces of the first ribs and contact surfaces of the second ribs with the membrane electrode assembly or the support are offset from each other in a cross sectional view in the direction orthogonal to a gas passage direction.

Abstract: Each air battery stacked in a battery pack includes a cathode layer, an anode layer, an electrolyte layer and a frame member having electrical insulation properties and surrounding at least outer circumferences of the electrolyte layer and the cathode layer. The cathode layer includes a fluid-tight air-permeable member located at a cathode surface thereof and having, when viewed in plan, an outer circumferential edge portion situated outside of the outer circumference of the electrolyte layer. The frame member includes a holding portion located a cathode side thereof so as to hold the outer circumferential edge portion of the fluid-tight air-permeable member. The outer circumferential edge portion of the fluid-tight air-permeable member is adapted as a compressed region to which a compressive load is applied in a thickness direction thereof. By this structure, it is possible to achieve both of thickness reduction and high electrolyte sealing performance.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack structure includes, for example, a plurality of unit cells each having an aperture formed therethrough. A first fuel cell stack is formed by stacking the plurality of unit cells in a stacking direction and has an internal manifold opening defined by the apertures. A fluid passage within the cell for flowing a fluid that flows within the internal manifold is configured and arranged to flow the fluid in a direction generally perpendicular to the stacking direction of the unit cell. The structure also includes an external manifold having an external passage for supplying the fluid to the internal manifold, wherein an external manifold surface facing a flow direction of the fluid creates a vortex in fluid flowing within the external passage proximal to the internal manifold.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a fuel cell apparatus that includes at least one fuel cell stack including a plurality of unit fuel cells, each unit fuel cell including a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes arranged on each side the electrode membrane, and a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, a casing arranged and configured to accommodate the fuel cell stack, and at least one elastic member arranged part or whole of the circumference of the fuel cell stack in contact with an inner wall of the casing.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack structure includes, for example, a plurality of unit cells each having an aperture formed therethrough. A first fuel cell stack is formed by stacking the plurality of unit cells in a stacking direction and has an internal manifold opening defined by the apertures. A fluid passage within the cell for flowing a fluid that flows within the internal manifold is configured and arranged to flow the fluid in a plane generally perpendicular to the stacking direction of the unit cell. The structure also includes an external manifold having an external passage for supplying the fluid to the internal manifold, wherein the fluid flowing within the external passage creates a vortex proximal to the internal manifold by an external manifold surface facing a flow direction of the fluid.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a fuel cell apparatus that includes at least one fuel cell stack including a plurality of unit fuel cells, each unit fuel cell including a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes arranged on each side the electrode membrane, and a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, a casing arranged and configured to accommodate the fuel cell stack, and at least one elastic member arranged part or whole of the circumference of the fuel cell stack in contact with an inner wall of the casing.