Abstract: In an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, having nanofiber unwoven cloth buried in an electrolyte resin, the nanofiber unwoven cloth is disposed being exposed only from one face of the electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell includes a MEA having an anode electrode disposed on one face of the electrolyte membrane and having a cathode electrode disposed on the other face thereof, and a pair of separators holding the MEA by sandwiching the MEA therebetween. Thereby, the electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane, and the fuel cell are provided with which the electric power generation property and productivity are improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resistance-measurement apparatus, including: multiple measurement chambers for holding powdery materials; multiple first electrodes that press the respective powder materials in the measurement chambers; at least one second electrode that faces the first electrodes and that presses the powdery materials; and a measuring device that measures a resistance between the first electrodes and the at least one second electrode. Further disclosed is a resistance-measurement method, including: (i) placing at least one powdery material between a number N of first electrodes and at least one second electrode, and pressing the at least one powdery material therebetween; (ii) measuring an impedance between the number N of the first electrodes and the at least one second electrode; and (iii) measuring an impedance between a number M of the first electrodes and the at least one second electrode, wherein the number N is different from the number M.

Abstract: A solid polymer fuel cell has a plurality of stacked single battery modules having an electrolyte membrane, electrode layers disposed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators provided with a gas flow paths disposed on the inside surface so as to sandwich the electrode layer. The electrolyte membrane is provided with electrolyte material and a nonwoven fabric which is embedded in the electrolyte material. The nonwoven fabric is provided with a plurality of fused parts that are provided in a linear shape or spotted on a part of the nonwoven fabric that is a part corresponding to of the solid polymer fuel cell. Two or more nonwoven fibers are fused to each other, and the thickness thereof is thinner than the membrane thickness of the unwoven fabric.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane (1), a pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1), and a pair of gas diffusion layers facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1) and the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3), wherein at least one of the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) includes unwoven cloth (6A) including fiber-like structures (6) each having proton conduction performance, and wherein a portion of the unwoven cloth is buried in the electrolyte membrane (1) adjacent to the catalyst layer (3) including the unwoven cloth (6A).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a membrane-electrode-frame assembly which suppresses reductions in power generation properties due to gas cross leakage of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which improves durability of a polymer electrolyte membrane and which exhibits superior productivity. In the membrane-electrode-frame assembly, an unwoven fabric which has two domains each having different pore sizes and which is formed with fibers of PVDF is disposed as a reinforcing membrane in a polymer electrolyte membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and a domain having a smaller pore size and protruding from the polymer electrolyte membrane and a frame are formed into an integrated structure by welding, thereby improving a gas sealing capability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resistance-measurement apparatus, including: multiple measurement chambers for holding powdery materials; multiple first electrodes that press the respective powder materials in the measurement chambers; at least one second electrode that faces the first electrodes and that presses the powdery materials; and a measuring device that measures a resistance between the first electrodes and the at least one second electrode. Further disclosed is a resistance-measurement method, including: (i) placing at least one powdery material between a number N of first electrodes and at least one second electrode, and pressing the at least one powdery material therebetween; (ii) measuring an impedance between the number N of the first electrodes and the at least one second electrode; and (iii) measuring an impedance between a number M of the first electrodes and the at least one second electrode, wherein the number N is different from the number M.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane (1), a pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1), and a pair of gas diffusion layers facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1) and the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3), wherein at least one of the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) includes unwoven cloth (6A) including fiber-like structures (6) each having proton conduction performance, and wherein a portion of the unwoven cloth is buried in the electrolyte membrane (1) adjacent to the catalyst layer (3) including the unwoven cloth (6A).

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane (1), a pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1), and a pair of gas diffusion layers facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1) and the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3), wherein at least one of the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) includes unwoven cloth (6A) including fiber-like structures (6) each having proton conduction performance, and wherein a portion of the unwoven cloth is buried in the electrolyte membrane (1) adjacent to the catalyst layer (3) including the unwoven cloth (6A).

Abstract: A method of measuring proton conductivity includes configuring multiple pairs of electrodes having an electrolyte film, which is a target to be measured, interposed between the electrodes; measuring the electrodes individually or by combining the electrodes in multiple pairs; calculating the amount of change of impedance values with respect to a change of areas of the electrodes; and calculating proton conductivity from the calculated results, and thus, it is possible to increase measurement accuracy.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell includes a reinforce membrane made of nonwoven fibers and an electrolyte provided in a space among the nonwoven fibers. The nonwoven fibers have a non-uniform mass distribution in a plane of the electrolyte membrane. A mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to at least part of a peripheral portion of a fuel cell-use gasket frame is greater than a mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to a center portion of the gasket frame. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell is attached to the fuel cell-use gasket frame.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte membrane that suppresses swelling and shrinkage caused by water retained in the electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell, improves the durability of the electrolyte membrane, and obtains excellent power generation characteristics with a low resistance. The electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell includes, as a reinforcing membrane, a nonwoven fabric composed of an electrolyte material and PVDF bicomponent fibers 2a, thereby improving the durability of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, the bicomponent fiber 2a has pores 23 that can effectively retain generated water, thereby improving battery performance under the condition of a low humidity.

Abstract: In an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, having nanofiber unwoven cloth buried in an electrolyte resin, the nanofiber unwoven cloth is disposed being exposed only from one face of the electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell includes a MEA having an anode electrode disposed on one face of the electrolyte membrane and having a cathode electrode disposed on the other face thereof, and a pair of separators holding the MEA by sandwiching the MEA therebetween. Thereby, the electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane, and the fuel cell are provided with which the electric power generation property and productivity are improved.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a membrane-electrode-frame assembly which suppresses reductions in power generation properties due to gas cross leakage of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which improves durability of a polymer electrolyte membrane and which exhibits superior productivity. In the membrane-electrode-frame assembly, an unwoven fabric which has two domains each having different pore sizes and which is formed with fibers of PVDF is disposed as a reinforcing membrane in a polymer electrolyte membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and a domain having a smaller pore size and protruding from the polymer electrolyte membrane and a frame are formed into an integrated structure by welding, thereby improving a gas sealing capability.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane (1), a pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1), and a pair of gas diffusion layers facing each other sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (1) and the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3), wherein at least one of the pair of catalyst layers (3, 3) includes unwoven cloth (6A) including fiber-like structures (6) each having proton conduction performance, and wherein a portion of the unwoven cloth is buried in the electrolyte membrane (1) adjacent to the catalyst layer (3) including the unwoven cloth (6A).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte membrane that suppresses swelling and shrinkage caused by water retained in the electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell, improves the durability of the electrolyte membrane, and obtains excellent power generation characteristics with a low resistance. The electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell includes, as a reinforcing membrane, a nonwoven fabric composed of an electrolyte material and PVDF bicomponent fibers 2a, thereby improving the durability of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, the bicomponent fiber 2a has pores 23 that can effectively retain generated water, thereby improving battery performance under the condition of a low humidity.

Abstract: This solid polymer fuel cell has a plurality of stacked single battery modules having an electrolyte membrane, electrode layers disposed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators provided with a gas flow paths disposed on the inside surfaces so as to sandwich the electrode layers. The electrolyte membrane is provided with electrolyte material and a nonwoven fabric which is embedded in the electrolyte material. The nonwoven fabric is provided with a plurality of fused parts that are provided in a linear shape or spotted shape on a part of the nonwoven fabric that is a part corresponding to of the solid polymer fuel cell, wherein two or more nonwoven fibers are fused to each other and the thickness thereof is thinner than the membrane thickness of the unwoven fabric.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell includes a reinforce membrane made of nonwoven fibers and an electrolyte provided in a space among the nonwoven fibers. The nonwoven fibers have a non-uniform mass distribution in a plane of the electrolyte membrane. A mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to at least part of a peripheral portion of a fuel cell-use gasket frame is greater than a mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to a center portion of the gasket frame. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell is attached to the fuel cell-use gasket frame.