Patent ID: 7531265
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators sandwiching said membrane electrode assembly, said membrane electrode assembly comprising an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode and an anode including electrode catalyst layers provided respectively on both surfaces of said electrolyte membrane, wherein an oxygen-containing gas flow field for supplying an oxygen-containing gas is provided between said cathode and one of said separators and a fuel gas flow field for supplying a fuel gas is provided between said anode and the other of said separators, and wherein adhesive layers are provided around said electrode catalyst layer of said anode and around said electrode catalyst layer of said cathode, respectively; gas diffusion layers are provided on said electrode catalyst layer of said anode and on said electrode catalyst layer of said cathode, respectively, said gas diffusion layers covering said electrode catalyst layers and said adhesive layers; said one separator comprises a plurality of non-contacting protrusions that are spaced from the cathode and a plurality of contacting protrusions that contact the cathode, wherein the plurality of contacting protrusions include at least one first outer contacting protrusion provided outside said oxygen-containing gas flow field, said first outer contacting protrusion contacting the cathode along a contact width; said other separator comprises a plurality of non-contacting protrusions that are spaced from the anode and a plurality of contacting protrusions that contact the anode, wherein the plurality of contacting protrusions include at least one second outer contacting protrusion provided outside said fuel gas flow field, said second outer contacting protrusion contacting the anode along the contact width; and outer edges of said electrode catalyst layers are provided within the contact width, sandwiched between the first outer contacting protrusion contacting the cathode and the second outer contacting protrusion contacting the anode.