Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer includes a catalyst material, a conductive carrier, which supports the catalyst material, a polymer electrolyte, and a fibrous material. The electrode catalyst layer includes a three-dimensional network of a flow path. The flow path includes a plurality of terminal points and a plurality of branches. Each of the branches is an elongated hole connecting a pair of the terminal points. The plurality of branches include a bifurcated branch. One of the pair of the terminal points of the bifurcated branch is connected to another branch. The number of branches per unit volume of the electrode catalyst layer is 8500 or more and 13000 or less. The unit volume is defined as 3.9 ?m×3.9 ?m×4.4 ?m.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer includes a catalyst material, a conductive carrier, which supports the catalyst material, a polymer electrolyte, and a fibrous material. The electrode catalyst layer includes a three-dimensional network of a flow path. The flow path includes a plurality of terminal points and a plurality of branches. Each of the branches is an elongated hole connecting a pair of the terminal points. The plurality of branches include a bifurcated branch. One of the pair of the terminal points of the bifurcated branch is connected to another branch. The number of branches per unit volume of the electrode catalyst layer is 8500 or more and 13000 or less. The unit volume is defined as 3.9 ?m×3.9 ?m×4.4 ?m.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane having a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface; an anode-side electrode catalyst layer bonded to the first surface; and a cathode-side electrode catalyst layer bonded to the second surface. The cathode-side electrode catalyst layer and the anode-side electrode catalyst layer each contain a catalyst material, a conductive carrier that supports the catalyst material, a polymer electrolyte, and a fibrous material. The thickness of the anode-side electrode catalyst layer is greater than the thickness of the cathode-side electrode catalyst layer.