Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell provides a current collector adjacent to an electrode catalyst layer. Since electrons passing between the current collector and the electrode catalyst layer do not pass through a diffusion layer or a supporting layer, the diffusion layer or supporting layer may be non-conductive. Thus, various materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, porous, hydrous, or the like can be used for the diffusion layer and the supporting layer, thereby improving the performance of the fuel cell. In addition, manufacturing costs of the membrane electrode assembly can be decreased since the membrane electrode assembly can be manufactured quickly with low energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) of a fuel cell, the method comprising: forming a composition for forming a catalyst layer by mixing a polymer ionomer, an alcohol solvent, and a polar organic solvent having a boiling point of 30 to 200° C. with a metal catalyst; coating the composition for forming a catalyst layer on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane to form electrode catalyst layers; and arranging electrode supports on the electrode catalyst layers. Also, the present invention provides an MEA of a fuel cell that is produced according to the method and a fuel cell comprising MEA of a fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a porous layer containing a moisture retentive material. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer adjacent to the electrolyte membrane and an anode diffusion layer adjacent to the anode catalyst layer, and the porous layer is disposed between the anode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane. The performance of the fuel cell can be stably maintained even when a fuel supply is temporarily interrupted due to a malfunction of a pump or clogging of a fuel channel.

Abstract: A method of estimating a lifespan of a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode which contain catalysts and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. A cyclic potential with a voltage ranging from a low voltage to a voltage greater than oxidation voltages of the catalysts is applied between the anode and the cathode and fuel cell performance is measured initially and after a predetermined number of cycles. The lifespan of the fuel cell may estimated based on degradation of cell performance after the predetermined number of cycles, based on CV curves obtained during the cycling of the potential and/or a change in particle size of the catalysts after the predetermined number of cycles.

Abstract: A thin membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a diffusion layer with openings and thus does not require a separate carbon substrate. The membrane electrode assembly can be used to manufacture a slim, compact fuel cell. The membrane electrode assembly also ensures a quick response and stable electric generation and lowers electrical resistance, thereby enabling a high performance fuel cell to be manufactured. In addition, since no separate carbon substrate is required, the manufacturing costs of the membrane electrode assembly are reduced.

Abstract: A diffusion electrode for a fuel cell, having good polar liquid transporting property and gas transporting property, and an electrode and a fuel cell using the diffusion electrode are provided. The diffusion electrode includes: hydrophobic porous agglomerates containing electroconductive particles and a hydrophobic binder resin, wherein the hydrophobic porous agglomerates form a three dimensional netlike structure; and hydrophilic porous agglomerates containing electroconductive particles, wherein the hydrophilic porous agglomerates form a three dimensional netlike structure filling empty space among the three dimensional netlike structure formed by the hydrophobic porous agglomerates..

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) of a fuel cell, the method comprising: forming a composition for forming a catalyst layer by mixing a polymer ionomer, an alcohol solvent, and a polar organic solvent having a boiling point of 30 to 200° C. with a metal catalyst; coating the composition for forming a catalyst layer on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane to form electrode catalyst layers; and arranging electrode supports on the electrode catalyst layers. Also, the present invention provides an MEA of a fuel cell that is produced according to the method and a fuel cell comprising MEA of a fuel cell.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) comprising: mixing a metal catalyst with pure water, perfluorinated polymer ionomer and a polar organic solvent to prepare a composition for forming a catalyst layer; coating a diffusion layer formed on an electrode support with the catalyst layer forming composition, drying to forming a catalyst layer, thereby preparing a cathode and an anode, respectively; and interposing an electrolyte membrane between the anode and the cathode. The electrode catalyst for a fuel cell is inactivated to prevent spontaneous oxidation, thereby stabilizing the catalyst.

Abstract: Provided a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack with at least two cell units. Each cell unit includes: a catalyzed membrane formed by catalyzing both surfaces of an electrolyte layer; a fuel flow field portion and air flow field portion formed at opposite surfaces of the catalyzed membrane, at least one of the fuel and air flow field portions comprising a parallel flow field which induces gas flow in a direction parallel to the surface of the catalyzed membrane and an orthogonal flow field which induces gas flow in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the catalyzed membrane; a bipolar plate in contact with each outer surface of the fuel flow region portion and the air flow region portions. The volume and weight of the entire fuel cell stack can be flexibly reduced by adjusting the number of cell units. In addition, a defective cell unit can be easily replaced without performance degradation in the cell stack. The use of bipolar plates as electrodes promotes gas flow.