Patent ID: 8703360

Claim:
A method for producing an electrode-membrane-frame assembly, comprising: providing an electrode-membrane-frame assembly principal part having a polymer electrolyte membrane with opposing surfaces, a first catalyst layer arranged on one of the surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, a first gas diffusion layer arranged on a surface of the first catalyst layer and inside a circumferential region of the principal part, a second catalyst layer arranged on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a second gas diffusion layer arranged on a surface of the second catalyst layer and inside the circumferential region of the principal part so that the first and second gas diffusion layers have opposing regions that oppose each other with the electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween and so that a position of an outer circumference of the second gas diffusion layer is different than that of an outer circumference of the first gas diffusion layer; providing a frame-shaped primary molded body fitted in a first molding die; arranging the principal part such that the circumferential region of the principal part is disposed on a flat region located in an inner-circumferential portion of the primary molded body, the flat region being parallel to a plane direction of the electrolyte membrane, and such that an outer circumferential portion of either the first gas diffusion layer or the second gas diffusion layer, said outer circumferential portion being positioned outside the opposing regions of the first and second gas diffusion layers, is opposed to the flat region in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane so that a portion of the electrolyte membrane is interposed, in the thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane, between said outer circumferential portion and the flat region; clamping a second molding die to the first molding die with the primary molded body fitted in the first molding die; and causing a thermoplastic resin to flow into between the second molding die and the first molding die together with the primary molded body so as to mold a secondary molded body such that the primary molded body together with the secondary molded body form a frame, which is integrated with the principal part.