Patent ID: 7132187
Filing Date: 2006-11-07
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of electrodes sandwiching said hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a first separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one of the electrodes; and a second separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, wherein each of said electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer comprising at least a conductive carbon particle carrying an electrode catalyst particle and a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte, said electrode catalyst layer being in contact with said hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, and at least one of said electrodes comprises a catalyst for trapping the fuel gas or the oxidant gas which has passed through said hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane from the other electrode toward the electrode catalyst layer of said one of said electrodes, wherein said catalyst for trapping the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is a catalyst for promoting the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water; and said catalyst for promoting the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water is carried on a carrier, and said carrier carrying said catalyst for promoting the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water is coated with the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte, and the weight ratio of the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte to said carrier is from 1.6 to 2.0, and the catalyst for promoting the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water is electrically insulated from the electrode by the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte.