Abstract: A method for manufacturing a catalyst-supporting carrier composed of a catalyst-supporting carbon and a polyelectrolyte, and including a carbon having pores to support a catalyst, introducing a functional group functioning as a polymerization initiator to the surface and/or in the pores of the catalyst-supporting carbon, introducing an electrolyte monomer and thereby grafting it onto the catalyst supporting carbon carrier for polymerizing by radical polymerization, and hydrolyzing at least part of the polymerized polyelectrolyte by a strong alkali. By using this catalyst-supporting carrier, electrode reaction is effectively facilitated, and the fuel-cell electrical efficiency can be improved. Further, an electrode having excellent properties and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with such electrode and capable of obtaining high cell output are provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalyst-supporting support made up of catalyst-supporting carbon and an electrolyte polymer is provided which is characterized by including: a step of allowing carbon with pores to support a catalyst; a step of introducing a functional group, which is to be a polymerization initiator, into the surface and/or the pores of the catalyst-supporting carbon; and a step of introducing an electrolyte monomer or electrolyte monomer precursor into the surface and/or the pores of the catalyst-supporting carbon to polymerize the introduced electrolyte monomer or electrolyte monomer precursor using the polymerization initiator as a polymerization initiation site, whereby a three-phase boundary at which the reaction gas, catalyst and electrolyte meet can be sufficiently ensured in the carbon, and thus the catalyst can be more efficiently utilized.

Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.