Patent ID: 8034505

Claim:
A fuel-cell separator which is interposed between adjacent ones of a plurality of electrolyte assemblies, each constructed of an electrolyte layer containing an electrolyte medium sandwiched between two catalytic electrodes that are disposed on respective surfaces in a thickness-wise direction of the electrolyte layer, the fuel-cell separator comprising: a separating section for achieving separation between a fuel gas channel and an oxidizer gas channel; and a sealing section disposed along an outer periphery of the separator, for preventing leakage of fuel gas and oxidizer gas, the separating section and the sealing section being integrally formed with each other, wherein a region corresponding to the sealing section is provided with a sealing projection which extends in parallel with the surface of the electrolyte assembly on which the catalytic electrode is formed, a vertex of which is brought into pressure-contact with the electrolyte assembly under a resilient force, a sectional profile of the sealing projection perpendicular to a direction in which fuel gas and oxidizer gas flow is U-shaped or V-shaped, the sealing section is formed in a manner such that, when the fuel cell is in a yet-to-be assembled condition, the vertex of the sealing projection extends beyond a position of contact with the electrolyte assembly in contrast to a case where the fuel cell is in an assembled condition, wherein the sealing projection has, at least in its area to be contacted by the electrolyte layer, a high polymer elastic layer formed of an elastic body, and wherein the high polymer elastic layer has a width ranging from 1 to 10 mm and a thickness ranging from 1 to 100 μm.