Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly of an embodiment includes: a first electrode having a first base, and a first catalyst layer provided on the first base, the first catalyst layer including a plurality of first catalyst units with a laminated structure, and the laminated structure including void layers; and an electrolyte membrane being in direct contact with both first surfaces of the first catalyst units facing each other among the first catalyst units, and second surfaces of the first catalyst units on the opposite side from the first base side. A portion is included where the electrolyte membrane exists over a region being at least 80% of a thickness of the first catalyst layer from the second surfaces of the first catalyst units toward the first base.

Abstract: A laminated electrolyte membrane of an embodiment includes: a first electrolyte membrane; a second electrolyte membrane; and a nanosheet laminated catalyst layer provided between the first electrolyte membrane and the second electrolyte membrane and including a laminated structure in which a plurality of nanosheet catalysts is laminated with a gap.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a membrane electrode assembly comprises a catalyst layer being porous and containing a catalyst material, the catalyst layer comprising a plurality of catalyst units each having a porous body structure or a laminated structure containing a void layer, and an electrolyte membrane adjacent to the porous catalyst layer. The catalyst unit bites into the electrolyte membrane, and an average biting ratio is not less than 10%, and not more than 80% of a thickness of the catalyst layer.

Abstract: An electrode of an embodiment includes a catalyst layer having pores. A mode diameter of the pores is 10 ?m or more and 100 ?m or less.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly of an embodiment includes: a first electrode having a first base, and a first catalyst layer provided on the first base, the first catalyst layer including a plurality of first catalyst units with a laminated structure, and the laminated structure including void layers; and an electrolyte membrane being in direct contact with both first surfaces of the first catalyst units facing each other among the first catalyst units , and second surfaces of the first catalyst units on the opposite side from the first base side. A portion is included where the electrolyte membrane exists over a region being at least 80% of a thickness of the first catalyst layer from the second surfaces of the first catalyst units toward the first base.

Abstract: A fuel cell driving method of an embodiment includes applying a voltage with a potential cycle including repetitions of low potential and high potential by use of a power supply connected to an anode and a cathode of a membrane electrode assembly having the anode, an electrolyte membrane, and the cathode. The low potential is 0.85 V or less for the cathode with reference to a potential of the anode. The high potential is 1.10 V or more for the cathode with reference to a potential of the anode.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the noble metal catalyst layer includes first noble metal layer and a second noble metal layer formed on the first noble metal layer. The first noble metal layer includes a first noble metal element and has a porosity of 65 to 95 vol. %, a volume of pores having a diameter of 5 to 80 nm accounts for 50% or more of a volume of total pores in the first noble metal layer. The second noble metal layer includes a second noble metal element, and has an average thickness of 3 to 20 nm and a porosity of 50 vol. % or less.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a catalyst-supporting substrate comprises a substrate and a catalyst layer including a plurality of pores, the catalyst layer being supported on the substrate. The average diameter of the section of the pore when the catalyst is cut in the thickness direction of the thickness is 5 nm to 400 nm, and the long-side to short-side ratio of the pore on the section is 1:1 to 10:1 in average.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode and an electrolytic membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode is formed of an integral solid conductive plate and includes a first surface in contact with the electrolytic membrane and a second surface apart from the first surface in a thickness direction. The at least one of the anode and the cathode includes a plurality of first pores opened in the first surface and a plurality of second pores opened in the second surface, the second pores communicating with a part of the first pores. The first pores are smaller than the second pores, and the concentration of pores in the first surface is higher than that in the second surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a membrane electrode assembly comprises a catalyst layer being porous and containing a catalyst material, the catalyst layer comprising a plurality of catalyst units each having a porous body structure or a laminated structure containing a void layer, and an electrolyte membrane adjacent to the porous catalyst layer. The catalyst unit bites into the electrolyte membrane, and an average biting ratio is not less than 10%, and not more than 80% of a thickness of the catalyst layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode and an electrolytic membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode is formed of an integral solid conductive plate and includes a first surface in contact with the electrolytic membrane and a second surface apart from the first surface in a thickness direction. The at least one of the anode and the cathode includes a plurality of first pores opened in the first surface and a plurality of second pores opened in the second surface, the second pores communicating with a part of the first pores. The first pores are smaller than the second pores, and the concentration of pores in the first surface is higher than that in the second surface.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a porous catalyst layer includes a metal portion including plural noble metal-including sheets stacked apart from each other, and a porous nanocarbon layer disposed between two adjacent noble metal-including sheets. The plural noble metal-including sheets in the metal portion have an integrated portion. The porous nanocarbon layer includes fibrous nanocarbon.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of an embodiment includes: a catalyst layer having a noble metal catalyst unit that has a porous structure or a layer-by-layer structure including void layers and a hydrophilic material; a porous water management layer arranged adjacent to the catalyst layer and including a hydrophilic material and a conductive material; and a gas diffusion layer arranged adjacent to the porous water management layer, where a size of the noble metal catalyst unit is equal to or more than 0.05 ?m and equal to or less than 2 ?m, the porosity of the porous water management layer is equal to or more than 30 vol % and equal to or less than 85 vol %, and the hydrophilicity thereof is equal to or more than 0.05 and equal to or less than 1.

Abstract: A catalyst layer includes a layered structure. The layered structure is laminated with sheet-like unit catalysts and pore layers. The sheet-like unit catalysts have mean thicknesses of 4 to 30 nm. The pore layers are sandwiched between the sheet-like unit catalysts.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly, including: forming a catalyst layer precursor containing a mixture of a catalyst material and a pore-forming material on a substrate having a flatness of 60% or more; removing the pore-forming material from the catalyst layer precursor on the substrate, thereby forming a catalyst layer containing the catalyst material and having a porosity of 20 to 90% by volume; transferring the catalyst layer from the substrate to a gas diffusion layer, to provide an electrode; and bonding the catalyst layer of the electrode to an electrolyte membrane, to provide a membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure aim to provide a catalyst layer ensuring a high cell voltage and having both excellent robustness and sufficient endurance, and also to provide a process for producing the layer, a membrane electrode assembly and an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A catalyst layer containing a catalyst material, the catalyst layer having a porosity of 20 to 90% by vol and satisfying a relation: R1?R0×1.2, wherein R1 is an alignment ratio of the catalyst layer; and R0 is an alignment ratio of the catalyst material in powder form having a random crystalline plane distribution, and each of the alignment ratios is calculated from a X-ray diffraction spectrum having a diffraction angle 2? range from 10 to 90 degree measured using Cu-K?-rays.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer; an electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer; a first fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has pores; a second fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has larger pores than the those of the first fuel control layer; a third fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has smaller porous than those of the first fuel control layer and those of the second fuel control layer; and an anode GDL layer that is water-repellent and conductive, wherein the membrane and the layers above are arranged in the above order.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the noble metal catalyst layer includes first noble metal layer and a second noble metal layer formed on the first noble metal layer. The first noble metal layer includes a first noble metal element and has a porosity of 65 to 95 vol. %, a volume of pores having a diameter of 5 to 80 nm accounts for 50% or more of a volume of total pores in the first noble metal layer. The second noble metal layer includes a second noble metal element, and has an average thickness of 3 to 20 nm and a porosity of 50 vol. % or less.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an anode for a direct methanol fuel cell includes an anode catalyst layer containing a noble metal catalyst and a proton-conductive polyelectrolyte. A log differential pore volume distribution curve measured by a mercury intrusion porosimetry of the anode catalyst layer has a peak within a pore diameter range of 0.06 to 0.3 ?m and satisfies the following relationship: 0.5?(V1/V0)?0.9 wherein V0 is a cumulative pore volume of pores having a diameter of from 0.02 to 1 ?m, as measured by a mercury intrusion porosimetry, and V1 is a cumulative pore volume of pores having a diameter of from 0.02 to 0.2 ?m, as measured by a mercury intrusion porosimetry.