Abstract: A fuel cell provides a high output at a high current density. The fuel cell has an anode electrode and a cathode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer, a water-repellent layer disposed on the gas diffusion layer and containing a carbon material and polytetrafluoroethylene, and an electrode catalyst layer disposed on the water-repellent layer and containing a carbon material carrying a catalyst. The electrode catalyst layer has maximum and minimum thicknesses that differ from each other by less than 30 ?m. The electrode catalyst layer has cracks whose area is less than 10% of a total area of the electrode catalyst layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell provides a high output at a high current density. The fuel cell has an anode electrode and a cathode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer, a water-repellent layer disposed on the gas diffusion layer and containing a carbon material and polytetrafluoroethylene, and an electrode catalyst layer disposed on the water-repellent layer and containing a carbon material carrying a catalyst. The electrode catalyst layer has maximum and minimum thicknesses that differ from each other by less than 30 &mgr;m. The electrode catalyst layer has cracks whose area is less than 10% of a total area of the electrode catalyst layer.

Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell is efficiently produced. As a matrix, a material is used which can hold therein a impregnating liquid electrolyte and which can release the impregnating liquid electrolyte when the material is pressed. In step S1, the matrix is impregnated with the liquid electrolyte such as phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and methanesulfonic acid to provide an electrolyte layer. In step S2, the electrolyte layer is interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode to provide a stack. In step S3, the stack is pressed. By pressing the stack, the electrolyte layer is joined to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and the liquid electrolyte is diffused from the matrix to electrode catalyst layers of both of the electrodes.

Abstract: A first gas diffusion layer for constructing an anode electrode and a second gas diffusion layer for constructing a cathode electrode are provided with first and second gas flow passages which are formed opposingly to first and second flow passages provided on first and second separators respectively. A fuel gas is supplied to the first flow passage and the first gas flow passage, while an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the second flow passage and the second gas flow passage. Accordingly, the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas are uniformly diffused and supplied to first and second electrode catalyst layers respectively.

Abstract: This invention provides an electrode for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst layer obtained by a first step of homogeneously mixing carbon supporting platinum which is an electrode catalyst, an alcohol solution of an ion conductive component which is a solid polymer electrolytic membrane component, and an organic solvent, by means of a stirrer having a grinding effect to produce electrode paste in which the carbon is highly dispersed; a second step of stirring said electrode paste by means of a three-dimensional vibrating stirrer in order to obtain highly structured carbon on which platinum is supported; and a third step of coating a gas diffusion electrode material and/or a solid polymer electrolytic membrane with the electrode paste in which the carbon is highly structured, followed by removal of the organic solvent.

Abstract: A shaped-article for use in producing a fiber-reinforced composite member is formed of short fibers and deformed fibers. The deformed fibers have a plurality of needle-like portions extending from a nucleus portion. The short fibers are orientated at random by dispersing the deformed fibers. The fiber shaped-article is formed by pouring a slurry of the short fibers and deformed fibers dispensed in a liquid into a mold, compressing the slurry and removing the liquid.