Patent ID: 7833673

Claim:
A solid polymer electrolytic fuel cell comprising laminated single cell modules, wherein each of the single cell modules includes: a membrane-electrode-frame assembly having an electrode unit and a manifold-forming frame member, the electrode unit being formed of an anode electrode joined onto one surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane and a cathode electrode joined onto the other surface of the polymer electrolyte member, and the manifold-forming frame member being placed on a peripheral edge of the electrode unit; a gas supply unit for supplying a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas respectively to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrode unit and the membrane-electrode-frame assembly from an anode side and from a cathode side of the membrane-electrode-frame assembly, the separators being configured such that a gap is formed between the membrane-electrode-frame assembly and at least one of the separators, wherein an elastic member is placed between an outer edge of the electrode unit and an inner edge of the frame member, and the elastic member is integrally joined to the frame member and has a length equal to or longer than a gap dimension between the membrane-electrode-frame assembly and said at least one of the separators in an assembled state of the single cell modules, wherein the elastic member covers a portion of a surface of at least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, the surface facing one of the separators, and wherein the elastic member is elastically deformed in a thickness direction of the membrane-electrode-frame assembly in the assembled state of the single cell modules, such that the gap is sealed in a tight contact state.