An ion exchange membrane (52) for a fuel cell comprises a polymer having an acid functional group normally including protons, and having alkali metal ions partially ion-exchanged with the protons of the acid functional group of the membrane. The partial ion exchange of alkali metal ions into the membrane relates either to patterning of the exchanged ion make-up of the membrane, with some being ion exchanged and some not, or to the extent or concentration of the ion exchange in any particular location, or to both.

A fuel cell is provided which includes a catalyst layer to which hydrogen gas or air are introduced through both surfaces thereof a first separator disposed at a first side of the catalyst layer and including a plurality of first channels such that a first reactant among hydrogen gas or air flows; and a second separator disposed at the second side of the catalyst layer and including a plurality of second channels disposed in a direction perpendicular to the first channels. Particularly, each of the second channels includes a plurality of ventilation apertures such that a second reactant among the hydrogen and the air flows in a direction perpendicular to the second channels.

Realized are an electrochemical element and a solid oxide fuel cell that have a dense electrolyte layer and that have excellent durability and robustness, and methods for producing the same. An electrochemical element includes: a metal substrate 2 having a plurality of through holes 21; an electrode layer 3 provided over a front face of the metal substrate 2; and an electrolyte layer 4 provided over the electrode layer 3, wherein the through holes 21 are provided passing through the front face and a back face of the metal substrate 2, the electrode layer 3 is provided in a region larger than a region, of the metal substrate 2, in which the through holes 21 are provided, and the electrolyte layer 4 has a first portion 41 coating the electrode layer 3, and a second portion 42 that is in contact with the front face of the metal substrate 2.

An object of the present invention is to provide a redox flow secondary battery being low in the electric resistance and excellent in the current efficiency as well, and further having the durability. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a redox flow secondary battery, the electrolyte membrane containing an ion-exchange resin composition containing a fluorine-based polyelectrolyte polymer, and having an ion cluster diameter of 1.00 to 2.95 nm as measured in water at 25° C. by a small angle X-ray method, and to a redox flow secondary battery using the electrolyte membrane.

An object of the present invention is to provide a redox flow secondary battery being low in the electric resistance and excellent in the current efficiency as well, and further having the durability. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a redox flow secondary battery, the electrolyte membrane containing an ion-exchange resin composition containing a fluorine-based polyelectrolyte polymer, and having an ion cluster diameter of 1.00 to 2.95 nm as measured in water at 25° C. by a small angle X-ray method, and to a redox flow secondary battery using the electrolyte membrane.

A stack fastening structure of a fuel cell is provided and includes a fastening mechanism that is mounted at an outside of a plurality of stacked fuel cells to generate a force pressing against the plurality of stacked fuel cells. In addition, an insertion body is mounted within the fastening mechanism to adjust the force pressing against the plurality of fuel cells. Accordingly, the fastening force is more accurately adjusted using the insertion body and the external force applied to the insertion body is measured to calculate the fastening force.

A stack fastening structure of a fuel cell is provided and includes a fastening mechanism that is mounted at an outside of a plurality of stacked fuel cells to generate a force pressing against the plurality of stacked fuel cells. In addition, an insertion body is mounted within the fastening mechanism to adjust the force pressing against the plurality of fuel cells. Accordingly, the fastening force is more accurately adjusted using the insertion body and the external force applied to the insertion body is measured to calculate the fastening force.

Realized are a high-performance electrochemical element and solid oxide fuel cell in which the contact properties between a dense and highly-gastight electrolyte layer and an electrode layer are improved while the treatment temperature during formation of the electrolyte layer is suppressed to a low temperature, and methods for producing the same. An electrochemical element includes an electrode layer 3, and an electrolyte layer 4 arranged on the electrode layer 3, wherein the electrode layer 3 has a plurality of pores that are open on a face thereof in contact with the electrolyte layer 4, and the pores are filled with fine particles made of the same components as the electrolyte layer 4.

A fuel cell is formed by sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly between a first separator and a second separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode, an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode. In the membrane electrode assembly, a catalyst area of an electrode catalyst layer of the cathode and an electrode catalyst layer of the anode terminates at a position spaced upwardly from lower ends of an oxygen-containing gas flow field and a fuel gas flow field.

A gasket for sealing two mating surfaces of a fuel cell is described. The gasket has a core layer comprising exfoliated vermiculite. The core layer is interposed between a first and second coating layer, the said coating layers each comprising glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic material. Methods for producing gaskets according to the invention are also described. A solid oxide cell or a solid oxide cell component comprising one or more of the gaskets; use of the gasket to improve sealing properties in a solid oxide cell; and a method of producing a solid oxide cell or of sealing a solid oxide cell comprising incorporating at least one of the gaskets into the solid oxide cell are also defined.