Patent ID: 7622215

Claim:
A composite electrolyte membrane comprising: a reinforcement layer made of a resin and having apertures therein; and an electrolyte layer made of a polymer electrolyte and laminated at least one main surface of the reinforcement layer, wherein, an axis X 1 and an axis Y 1 form an orthogonal coordinate system, wherein the orthogonal coordinate system is fixed on a main surface of the reinforcement layer, the reinforcement layer has strength anisotropy in which the tensile modulus of elasticity in the direction of the X 1 axis is greater than the tensile modulus of elasticity in the direction of the Y 1 axis, wherein, an axis X 2 and an axis Y 2 form an orthogonal coordinate system, wherein, the orthogonal coordinate system is fixed on a main surface of the electrolyte layer, the electrolyte layer has size anisotropy in which the rate of size change in the direction of the X 2 axis is greater than the rate of size change in the direction of the Y 2 axis, and the reinforcement layer and the electrolyte layer are laminated such that the direction of the X 1 axis substantially corresponds with the direction of the X 2 axis wherein the orthogonal coordinate systems are perpendicular to the electrolyte membrane and the reinforcement layer laminate direction.