Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to efficiently utilize catalyst metal particles of a catalyst by fuel cell reaction. In a PFF structure in which a hydrophilic region is formed between the surface of a catalyst and an electrolyte, water is confined within the layer of the electrolyte, therefore by modifying the surface of a carrier by an acidic functional group, particularly by a sulfonic acid group, this acidic functional group is always in contact with the water, and thus protons are supplied therefrom into the water. Consequently, even in an environment, for example, in a micropore of the catalyst, into which the electrolyte cannot get, the protons from the acidic functional group are supplied to catalyst metal particles present at the peripheral surface of the micropore, and the catalyst metal particles contribute to fuel cell reaction.

Abstract: In a first process step, intermediate product dehydration polymerization of a hydrocarbon-based polymer including a metal alkoxide and phosphoric acid is performed to obtain an intermediate product. Then, in a second process step, the intermediate product is irradiated by microwaves with a wavelength that selectively imparts energy to a hydroxyl group included in the intermediate product. As a result, an electrolyte membrane is obtained that is composed from a skeleton formed from a hydrocarbon-based polymer and phosphoric acid that is proton conductive.

Abstract: In a first process step, intermediate product dehydration polymerization of a hydrocarbon-based polymer including a metal alkoxide and phosphoric acid is performed to obtain an intermediate product. Then, in a second process step, the intermediate product is irradiated by microwaves with a wavelength that selectively imparts energy to a hydroxyl group included in the intermediate product. As a result, an electrolyte membrane is obtained that is composed from a skeleton formed from a hydrocarbon-based polymer and phosphoric acid that is proton conductive.