Patent ID: 7914944

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit including a membrane electrode assembly having catalyst layers provided on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane, the membrane electrode assembly being sandwiched between an oxidizer electrode and a fuel electrode, the fuel cell using air in an atmosphere as an oxidizer, wherein the fuel cell unit further comprises: a gas diffusion layer provided so as to be laminated at least to the catalyst layer on a side of the oxidizer electrode of the membrane electrode assembly; a flow path forming member provided so as to be laminated to the gas diffusion layer, for allowing air flow therethrough; and a support member that surrounds a portion of the gas diffusion layer and contacts the membrane electrode assembly, wherein the support member is disposed in a position between the flow path forming member and the polymer electrolyte membrane, the position being opposed, with respect to the polymer electrolyte membrane, to a sealing material, which is in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane and which is disposed on a side of the fuel electrode of the polymer electrolyte membrane, for sealing the fuel electrode, and wherein the support member is more rigid than the sealing material.