Patent ID: 7638227

Claim:
A fuel cell stack comprising: a plurality of unit cells each of which includes an anode and a cathode which are provided on both sides of a predetermined electrolyte membrane, and a catalytic layer which is provided in at least one of the anode and the cathode, and which supports a catalyst for promoting an anode reaction or a cathode reaction, the plurality of unit cells being stacked in a stacking direction, wherein the plurality of unit cells include at least one unit cell including a catalyst layer in which an in-plane distribution, that is perpendicular to the stacking direction, of at least one of type, weight per unit area, and specific surface area of the catalyst is non-uniform, a center portion formed with reference to a center of the catalyst layer in a plane that is perpendicular to the stacking direction and a peripheral portion formed around the center portion, a catalytic ability of the peripheral portion being higher than that of the center portion.