Abstract: A fuel electrode catalyst for fuel cell excellent in CO poisoning resistance, an electrode/membrane assembly using the fuel electrode catalyst for fuel cell, and a fuel cell and a fuel cell system including the electrode/membrane assembly are provided. The fuel electrode catalyst for fuel cell comprises a platinum-ruthenium first alloy catalyst and a second alloy catalyst obtained by partially substituting ruthenium of the platinum-ruthenium first alloy catalyst by a metal lower dissolving potential than ruthenium. The electrode/membrane assembly 7 comprises three layers of a second alloy catalyst layer 3, a first alloy catalyst layer 4, and a ruthenium catalyst layer 5 arranged in this order from a polymer electrolytic membrane 1 side toward a gas diffusion layer 13 side.

Abstract: The current invention provides a fabrication method for large surface area, pinhole-free, ultra thin ion conducting membranes using atomic layer deposition on inexpensive sacrificial substrates to make cost effective, high performance fuel cells or electrolyzers. The resultant membrane electrode assembly (MEA) enables significant reduction in resistive losses as well as lowering of the operating temperature of the fuel cell. The invention further provides a method to deposit 3-dimensional surface conformal films that may have compositional grading for superior performance. In addition, the invention provides decoration and modification of electrode surfaces for enhanced catalytic activity and reduced polarization losses. The method of the current invention enables the MEA structure to be fabricated from the anode side up or the cathode side up, each with or without an incorporated anode current collector or cathode current collector, respectively.

Abstract: A novel approach based on the increase of the intrinsic oxidative stability of uncrosslinked membranes is addressed. The co-grafting of styrene with methacrylonitrile (MAN), which possesses a protected ?-position and strong dipolar pendant nitrile group, onto 25 ?m ETFE base film is disclosed. Styrene/MAN co-grafted membranes were compared to styrene based membrane in durability tests in single H2/O2 fuel cells. The incorporation of MAN improves the chemical stability dramatically. The membrane preparation based on the copolymerization of styrene and MAN shows encouraging results and offers the opportunity of tuning the MAN and crosslinker content to enhance the oxidative stability of the resulting fuel cell membranes.

Abstract: A polymer including a reaction product of a sulfonated polyarylene ether sulfone and at least one compound selected from a sulfonated compound having a thiol group at a terminal thereof and a sulfonated compound having a hydroxy group at a terminal thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the conditioning of membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells in which the output of the membrane electrode assemblies used can be increased and therefore the efficiency of the resulting polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells can be improved.

Abstract: A cell for a fuel cell, comprising a membrane electrode assembly, expanded moldings that are laminated to both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly and form gas channels, and separators that are laminated to the gas channel structures and separate the gases between adjacent cells, wherein each of the expanded moldings comprises a gas channel substrate formed from a metal material such as a titanium material or a stainless steel, a conductive layer that is formed from a conductor such as gold on a contact portion of the gas channel substrate that contacts the membrane electrode assembly or the separator, and a hydrophilic layer that is formed from a hydrophilic material such as a titanium oxide on the gas channel surface of the gas channel substrate.

Abstract: To provide a membrane/electrode assembly excellent in the power generation characteristics even under low or no humidity conditions or under high humidity conditions, and an electrolyte material suitable for a catalyst layer of the membrane/electrode assembly.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that secures a flow path of a separator while preventing generation of a pin-hole. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a microporous layer that is disposed at both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, a backing layer that is disposed on the microporous layer, and a circumferential edge protective layer that is disposed at an circumferential edge of the electrolyte membrane. An end portion of the microporous layer is positioned further inside of the membrane electrode assembly than an end portion of the backing layer. The circumferential edge protective layer is inserted between the backing layer and the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plate-like cell, a separator on one side of the plate-like cell, and a separator on the other side of the plate-like cell. The plate-like cell includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode, and a cathode. The anode has a stacked body composed of a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The cathode has a stacked body composed of a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The catalyst layer contains a porous carbon material formed with micro pores, which functions as an electric double layer, and an ion-exchange resin. At least part of the porous carbon material supports a catalytic metal such as platinum. The porous carbon material to be used is preferably a carbide-derived carbon. The carbide-derived carbon preferably has micro pores of 1 nm or less.

Abstract: A first transport system moves a web comprising a subgasketed CCM layer and an application system applies a crosslinkable resin to at least a subgasketed portion of the subgasketed CCM layer. The crosslinkable resin preferably comprises a photocurable cationic crosslinkable resin. A first curing apparatus subjects an exposed surface of the crosslinkable resin to a photo curing process to initiate curing of the crosslinkable resin. A second transport system moves a GDL into adhering contact with a partially cured exposed surface of the crosslinkable resin of the CCM layer so as to form an MEA layer. A second curing apparatus subjects the GDL, partially cured crosslinkable resin, and CCM layer structure to a thermal curing process to substantially complete curing of the crosslinkable resin. A converting system is configured to receive the MEA layer and produce a plurality of discrete MEAs from the MEA layer.

Abstract: A fuel-cell stack includes a proton-exchange membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first current-collecting metal plate, a first gas diffusion layer, and first and second layers that contact each other. The first electrode and second electrodes are fixed on corresponding sides of the membrane. The first gas diffusion layer is interposed between the first current-collecting plate and the second electrode. The first layer is fixed on the first current-collecting plate, while the second layer is fixed to the first gas diffusion layer. Both layers include a polyurethane matrix containing conductive fillers. The second layer makes contact with the first layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first separator, and a second separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a power generation section and a stepped section. The power generation section is located in an interior space of the resin frame member. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode in the power generation section. The stepped section is located on an outer side of the first electrode. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between the second electrode and the resin frame member in the stepped section. A magnitude of an interference in the stepped section is set to be smaller than a magnitude of an interference in the power generation section.

Abstract: A bio-fuel cell includes at least one bio-fuel cell element. The bio-fuel cell element includes an anode, a cathode, an anode container filled with the bio-fuel, a proton exchange membrane sandwiched between the anode and the cathode, and a guide plate. The cathode includes a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer includes a number of tube carriers having electron conductibility, a number of catalyst particles uniformly adsorbed on inner wall of each of the tube carriers, and proton conductor filled in each of the tube carriers. The tube carriers cooperatively define a number of reaction gas passages. One end of each of the tube carriers connects with the proton exchange membrane. The guide plate is disposed on a surface of the cathode away from the proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell, having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a membrane element, in which the membrane element is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of the electrodes has a flow field plate and at least one flow conduit, through which a reactant can be conducted, extends in at least one outer surface of the flow field plate. The flow field plate has at least one microreaction chamber, and the microreaction chamber is disposed in the outer surface and on the flow conduit. A catalyst is disposed on at least a part of the microreaction chamber in such a way that the catalyst has contact simultaneously with the membrane element and the inflowing reactant.

Abstract: A polymer-electrolyte membrane is presented. The polymer-electrolyte membrane comprises an acid-functional polymer, and an additive incorporated in at least a portion of the membrane. The additive comprises a fluorinated cycloaliphatic additive, a hydrophobic cycloaliphatic additive, or combinations thereof, wherein the additive has a boiling point greater than about 120° C. An electrochemical fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane, and a related method, are also presented.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell assembly that is expected to prevent or at least minimize electrode contamination includes one or more getters that trap a component or components leached from a first electrode and prevents or at least minimizes them from contaminating a second electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a polymeric composition and a method for making and using the polymeric composition, more specifically to a polymeric composition and a method for making and using the polymeric composition in the form of a membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid polymer fuel cell whose operational stability over time has been enhanced. A reinforced solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane for a solid polymer fuel cell according to the present invention comprises two or more polymer electrolyte membranes and one or more layers of a sheet-like porous reinforcing member, wherein the polymer electrolyte membranes provide both the upper and lower surfaces of the composite membrane, and pores in the sheet-like porous reinforcing member are substantially filled with the electrolyte from the polymer electrolyte membranes, and wherein the sheet-like porous reinforcing member contains a peroxide decomposition catalyst.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst suitable for use in a fuel cell, the electrocatalyst comprising: palladium, iridium and an anionic polymer.

Abstract: An example of a stable electrode structure is to use a gradient electrode that employs large platinum particle catalyst in the close proximity to the membrane supported on conventional carbon and small platinum particles in the section of the electrode closer to a GDL supported on a stabilized carbon. Some electrode parameters that contribute to electrode performance stability and reduced change in ECA are platinum-to-carbon ratio, size of platinum particles in various parts of the electrode, use of other stable catalysts instead of large particle size platinum (alloy, etc), depth of each gradient sublayer. Another example of a stable electrode structure is to use a mixture of platinum particle sizes on a carbon support, such as using platinum particles that may be 6 nanometers and 3 nanometers. A conductive support is typically one or more of the carbon blacks.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a process including providing an electrically conductive fuel cell component having a first face, and depositing a graphitic/conductive carbon film on the first face of the electrically conductive fuel cell component comprising sputtering a graphite target using a closed field unbalanced magnetron field.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: an anode formed of graphene oxide from an acidic pH; a cathode from a pH greater than the acidic pH of the anode; and charge collectors deposited on the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an oxygen reduction catalyst comprising composite particles in which primary particles of a titanium compound is dispersed into a carbon structure, wherein the composite particles have titanium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen as constituent elements, and with regard to a ratio of number of atoms of each of the elements when titanium is taken as 1, a ratio of carbon is larger than 2 and 5 or less, a ratio of nitrogen is larger than 0 and 1 or less, and a ratio of oxygen is 1 or more and 3 or less, and an intensity ratio (D/G ratio) of D band peak intensity to G band peak intensity in a Raman spectrum is in the range of 0.4 to 1.0. The oxygen reduction catalyst according to the present invention has satisfactory initial performance and excellent start-stop durability.

Abstract: A catalyst for a fuel cell including a carrier and an active metal dispersion that is supported in the carrier is disclosed. The catalyst may have a dispersity (Dp) represented by General Formula 1 and that ranges from between about 0.01 to about 1.0. Dispersity (Dp)={X?X10/(X1?B)}*(B/X)2??[General Formula 1] In the General Formula 1, X, X10, X1, and B are defined the same as described in the specification. A membrane-electrode assembly, and a fuel cell system having the catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane, an anode-side separator having a fuel flow channel for supplying fuel, and a cathode-side separator having an oxidant flow channel for supplying oxidant. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer and an anode diffusion layer, and the cathode includes a cathode catalyst layer and a cathode diffusion layer. At least one of the fuel flow channel and the oxidant flow channel has a plurality of parallel linear portions. The anode catalyst layer or the cathode catalyst layer has a plurality of belt-like first regions facing the linear portions and at least one second region between the adjacent first regions. The amount of catalyst in the first regions per unit area is on average larger than the amount of catalyst in the at least one second region per unit area.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly containing an anode and a cathode which are disposed opposite to one another via an electrolytic membrane; an anode channel plate adjacent to the anode and supplying a prescribed fuel to the anode; and a cathode channel plate adjacent to the cathode, supplying air to the cathode and containing a platy member which is elongated in a direction different from a supplying direction of the air to the cathode.

Abstract: A regenerative fuel cell is provided by the present invention. In the methods and systems described herein, a source of fuel is partially oxidized to release protons and electrons, without total oxidation to carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The partially oxidized fuel can be regenerated, by reduction, when the fuel cell is reversed. Other variations of the invention provide a convenient system for hydrogen storage, including steps for both release and recapture of hydrogen.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is provided. The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a phosphoric acid-doped polyimidazole electrolyte membrane and a complex catalyst. In the complex catalyst, an alloy or mixture of a metal and a chalcogen element is supported on a carbon carrier. The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell exhibits further improved long-term operation, power generation efficiency, and operational stability at high temperature. The complex catalyst can be produced by a simple method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, including: an electrolyte membrane; a catalyst layer; and a conductive porous gas diffusion layer, in which an interface between the catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane is provided with a groove for allowing one of passage and retention of a fluid, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell employing the membrane electrode assembly. As a result, there is provided at low costs the membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having improved drainage performance and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell employing the membrane electrode assembly and having stable power generation performance.

Abstract: Provided is a gas decomposition component that employs an electrochemical reaction and can have high treatment performance, in particular, an ammonia decomposition component. The gas decomposition component includes a MEA 7 including a solid electrolyte 1 and an anode 2 and a cathode 5 that are disposed so as to sandwich the solid electrolyte; Celmets 11s electrically connected to the anode 2; a heater 41 that heats the MEA; and an inlet 17 through which a gaseous fluid containing a gas is introduced into the MEA, an outlet 19 through which the gaseous fluid having passed through the MEA is discharged, and a passage P extending between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the Celmets 11s are discontinuously disposed along the passage P and, with respect to a middle position 15 of the passage, the length of the Celmets disposed is larger on the side of the outlet than on the side of the inlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane-electrode assembly (100), comprising two electrodes (110, 110?) and a membrane (120), preferably a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), which is disposed between the two electrodes (110, 110?), wherein the membrane-electrode assembly (100) comprises a first cover layer (130; 130?) and a second cover layer (140; 140?) on at least one flat side, preferably on both flat sides of the membrane (120), characterized in that the first cover layer (130; 130?) covers an edge face (125, 125?) of the membrane (120) and an electrode edge face (115, 115?) facing the membrane (120) and the second cover layer (140; 140?) partially covers the first cover layer (130; 130?), preferably in edge regions of the membrane-electrode assembly (100). The present invention further relates to a fuel cell which comprises a membrane-electrode assembly (100).

Abstract: A composite product is for an electrode of a fuel cell including a catalyst, an electrically conductive phase which supports such catalyst, a protonically conductive phase, and a porous phase. At least the contact between the catalyst and the electrically and protonically conductive phases, and preferably also the contact of the porous phase with the catalyst and with the electrically and protonically conductive phases, is improved or maximized. Each of the phases is individually continuous, and such phases are continuous with each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell electrode catalyst layer (13) of the preset invention includes: a catalyst (131b); a support (131a) that supports the catalyst; and two or more proton-conductive materials (133) different in dry mass value per mole of a proton-donating group, the proton-conductive materials being in contact with at least a part of the catalyst and at least a part of the support. Then, a proton-conductive material in which a dry mass value per mole of the proton-donating group is highest among the proton-conductive materials is in contact with at least a part of the catalyst, and has a largest contact ratio with a surface of the catalyst.

Abstract: To provide a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, which exhibits excellent power generation performance even in the case of reducing the used amount of a catalyst. It is an electrode catalyst layer for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst, a porous carrier for supporting the above-mentioned catalyst, and a polymer electrolyte, in which a mode diameter of the pore distribution of the above-mentioned porous carrier is 4 to 20 nm, and the above-mentioned catalyst is supported in a pore with a pore diameter of 4 to 20 nm of the above-mentioned porous carrier.

Abstract: A proton selective membrane for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells that is produced by providing one or more template molecules, providing one or more functional monomers to interact with the template molecules, providing a cross-linking agent(s) to covalently bond polymer chains created with the template molecules and functional monomers by polymerization, providing an initiating agent to start a chemical reaction which results in an imprinted polymer, and removing the template molecules from the imprinted polymer to create a proton selective membrane.

Abstract: In a fuel cell 1 including a membrane electrode assembly 2 which includes a reinforcing-membrane-type electrolyte membrane 10A, a dry-up on the anode side is suppressed by actively forming a water content gradient in the electrolyte membrane to enhance water back-diffusion effect from the cathode side to the anode side. For that purpose, two sheets of expanded porous membranes 12a and 12b having different porosities are buried, as reinforcing membranes, in electrolyte resin 11 to obtain the reinforcing-membrane-type electrolyte membrane 10A. The reinforcing-membrane-type electrolyte membrane 10A is used to form the membrane electrode assembly 2, which is sandwiched by separators 20 and 30 such that the side of a reinforcing membrane 12b with a larger porosity becomes the cathode side, thus obtaining the fuel cell 1. When one sheet of the reinforcing membrane is buried, the reinforcing membrane is offset to the anode side to be buried in the electrolyte resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell electrode, which has increased physical and chemical durability, and a method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) using the same. According to the present invention, the fuel cell electrode is manufactured by controlling the amount of platinum supported on a first carbon support used in an anode to be smaller than that used in a cathode to increase the mechanical strength of a catalyst layer and maintain the thickness of the catalyst layer after prolonged operation and by adding carbon nanofibers containing a radical scavenger to a catalyst slurry to decrease deterioration of chemical durability.

Abstract: According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a layered catalyst having an active area is provided. In at least one embodiment, the layered electrode includes a first catalyst layer having a first noble metal concentration and a first ionomer concentration, and a second catalyst layer disposed next to the first catalyst layer, the second catalyst layer having a second noble metal concentration different from the first noble metal concentration and a second ionomer concentration different from the first ionomer concentration. In at least another embodiment, the metallic alloy includes a metallic alloy of platinum, nickel, and cobalt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes separated by at least one polymer electrolyte membrane, the aforementioned polymer electrolyte membrane having fibrous reinforcing elements which at least partly penetrate the polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein at least some of the fibrous reinforcing elements have functional groups which have a covalent chemical bond between the fibers and the polymer of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The membrane electrode assembly is suitable for applications in fuel cells, especially in high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Abstract: An adhesive suitable for solid polymer fuel cells is provided that has sufficient bond durability, so that the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer do not separate, even with the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell repeatedly wetting and drying, and changing in dimension. An adhesive including a base compound, a cross-linking agent, an adhesion promoting agent, and a reaction catalyst is employed using a specific base compound having alkenyl groups, and a specific cross-linking agent having Si—H groups, in which the ratio of moles of the above Si—H group relative to moles of the above alkenyl group (moles of Si—H group/moles of alkenyl group) is adjusted to the range of 1.0 to 5.0.

Abstract: A separator includes a first plate and a second plate. The separator has a first fuel gas supply unit, a second fuel gas supply unit, first sandwiching sections, second sandwiching sections, a first case unit and a second case unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the first fuel gas supply unit and the second fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. The first sandwiching sections are connected to the first fuel gas supply unit through first bridges, and the second sandwiching sections are connected to a second fuel gas supply unit through first bridges. The first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections has a fuel gas inlet and each of the second sandwiching sections has an oxygen-containing gas inlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforced electrolyte membrane for fuel cell comprising a porous substrate impregnated with a polyelectrolyte liquid dispersion, wherein either the maximum tensile strength in the machine direction (for sheet processing) (MD) or the maximum tensile strength in the transverse direction (TD; vertical to the MD direction) for the electrolyte membrane is 70 N/mm2 or more at 23° C. at a relative humidity of 50% or 40 N/mm2 or more at 80° C. at a relative humidity of 90%. This reinforced electrolyte membrane for fuel cell, in which the amount of fluorine ions eluted as a result of deterioration of electrolyte membrane components in particular is reduced, has excellent durability.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells includes a proton conducting membrane having a first side and a second side. The membrane electrode assembly further includes an anode disposed over the first side of the proton conducting layer and a cathode catalyst layer disposed over the second side of the proton conducting layer. One or both of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer includes a first polymer which has cyclic polyether groups. An ink composition for forming a fuel cell catalyst layer is also provided.

Abstract: The fuel composition for a fuel cell for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a fuel, water, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and heteropoly acid. The fuel may be a hydrocarbon fuel. The hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount of 10 wt % to 60 wt % based on the weight of the mixture of the fuel, water, and the hydrogen peroxide. The heteropoly acid may be present in an amount of 0.0001 parts to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a mixture of the fuel, water, and hydrogen peroxide. The fuel composition may reduce a reforming reaction temperature and also hydrogen generating efficiency and resultantly provides a high power cell.

Abstract: A method including providing a substrate; treating the substrate to form a passive layer, wherein the passive layer has a thickness of at least 3 nm; and depositing an electrically conductive coating over the substrate, wherein the coating has a thickness of about 0.1 nm to about 50 nm.

Abstract: A fuel cell element including an assembly of a membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode, and a mechanism holding the assembly together, which forms a peripheral support thereof and that includes an electrical connection and a mechanism for circulation of fluid and for supply of the fluid into the assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells and a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell including the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a fluorine-based cation exchange resin having proton conductivity and fibrous nanoparticles having a hydrophilic group. By using the fluorine-based cation exchange resin having proton conductivity and the fibrous nanoparticles having a hydrophilic group in combination, performance of a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane is not deteriorated and the polymer electrolyte membrane prevents gases from permeating thereinto and has enhanced durability for extended use. A fuel cell including the above-described polymer electrolyte membrane is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell. The electrolyte membrane includes a blend of polymers with different degrees of sulfonation. The electrolyte membrane can exhibit excellent effects such as improved long-term cell performance and good long-term dimensional stability while at the same time solving the problems of conventional hydrocarbon electrolyte membranes. Further disclosed are a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell (1) includes an electromotive unit (2) having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (12), a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel, and a fuel supply mechanism (3) supplying the fuel from the fuel storage unit (4) to a fuel electrode (7) of the membrane electrode assembly (12). The membrane electrode assembly (12) has a gas vent hole (17) provided in a manner to penetrate through at least an electrolyte membrane (11) to let a gas component generated on a side of the fuel electrode (7) escape to a side of an air electrode (10).

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly including catalyst layers in both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane, substance diffusion of the catalyst layer being improved, in which forming at least one of the catalyst layers includes at least: forming a first layer including one of a catalyst and a catalyst precursor on a surface of a sheet by vapor-phase deposition; forming a through hole in the first layer; forming a second layer including one of a catalyst and a catalyst precursor on a surface of the first layer having the through hole by vapor-phase deposition; joining a polymer electrolyte membrane to a surface of the second layer; and peeling off the sheet from the first layer.