Patent ID: 8105732
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A direct oxidation fuel cell comprising at least one unit cell, the unit cell comprising: a membrane-electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; an anode-side separator being in contact with the anode; and a cathode-side separator being in contact with the cathode, wherein the anode-side separator has a fuel flow channel for supplying fuel to the anode; the cathode-side separator has an oxidant flow channel for supplying oxidant to the cathode; the cathode includes a first cathode catalyst layer being in contact with the electrolyte membrane, a cathode diffusion layer being in contact with the cathode-side separator, and an intermediate layer disposed between the first cathode catalyst layer and the cathode diffusion layer; the intermediate layer includes a second cathode catalyst layer being in contact with the first cathode catalyst layer and a porous composite layer being in contact with the cathode diffusion layer, the porous composite layer containing a hydrophobic material and an electron-conductive material; and at least a portion of the intermediate layer facing an upstream portion of the fuel flow channel includes the second cathode catalyst layer, and at least portions of the intermediate layer facing midstream and downstream portions of the fuel flow channel include the porous composite layer.