Some embodiments of the present invention provide solid oxide cells and components thereof having a metal oxide electrolyte that exhibits enhanced ionic conductivity. Certain of those embodiments have two materials, at least one of which is a metal oxide, disposed so that at least some interfaces between the domains of the materials orient in a direction substantially parallel to the desired ionic conductivity.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide solid oxide cells and components thereof having a metal oxide electrolyte that exhibits enhanced ionic conductivity. Certain of those embodiments have two materials, at least one of which is a metal oxide, disposed so that at least some interfaces between the domains of the materials orient in a direction substantially parallel to the desired ionic conductivity.

A heat treatment apparatus for a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly is provided. The heat treatment apparatus includes a hot press installed on upper and lower sides of feeding path to move in the vertical direction on a frame and which presses the electrode catalyst layers on upper and lower surfaces of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A plurality of gripper modules are installed at set intervals in a base member along a feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet, and selectively grip both side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A driving unit reciprocally moves the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and in the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet.

A heat treatment apparatus for a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly is provided. The heat treatment apparatus includes a hot press installed on upper and lower sides of feeding path to move in the vertical direction on a frame and which presses the electrode catalyst layers on upper and lower surfaces of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A plurality of gripper modules are installed at set intervals in a base member along a feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet, and selectively grip both side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A driving unit reciprocally moves the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and in the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet.

A membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane; a first electrode layer disposed on an upper surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and a second electrode layer disposed on a lower surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane. At least one end of the polymer electrolyte membrane is bent upward along a side of the first electrode layer and extends to an upper surface of the first electrode layer or is bent downward along a side of the second electrode layer and extends to a lower surface of the second electrode layer.

A membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane; a first electrode layer disposed on an upper surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and a second electrode layer disposed on a lower surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane. At least one end of the polymer electrolyte membrane is bent upward along a side of the first electrode layer and extends to an upper surface of the first electrode layer or is bent downward along a side of the second electrode layer and extends to a lower surface of the second electrode layer.

A heat treatment apparatus for a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly is provided. The heat treatment apparatus includes a hot press installed on upper and lower sides of feeding path to move in the vertical direction on a frame and which presses the electrode catalyst layers on upper and lower surfaces of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A plurality of gripper modules are installed at set intervals in a base member along a feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet, and selectively grip both side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A driving unit reciprocally moves the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and in the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet.

A heat treatment apparatus for a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly is provided. The heat treatment apparatus includes a hot press installed on upper and lower sides of feeding path to move in the vertical direction on a frame and which presses the electrode catalyst layers on upper and lower surfaces of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A plurality of gripper modules are installed at set intervals in a base member along a feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet, and selectively grip both side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet. A driving unit reciprocally moves the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and in the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet.

A fuel cell stack includes a reaction layer having a MEA, an anode separator having a gas channel formed at a first side facing the reaction layer and through which a first reactant gas flows, and a cooling channel formed at a second side and through which a coolant flows. The anode separator abuts the reaction layer. A cathode separator abuts anode separator so that a first side of the cathode separator covers the cooling channel. A porous structural unit has a partition wall protruding from the second side of the cathode separator and has a flow path for a second reactant gas to minimize a cooling temperature deviation and improve operational efficiency.

A fuel cell stack includes a reaction layer having a MEA, an anode separator having a gas channel formed at a first side facing the reaction layer and through which a first reactant gas flows, and a cooling channel formed at a second side and through which a coolant flows. The anode separator abuts the reaction layer. A cathode separator abuts anode separator so that a first side of the cathode separator covers the cooling channel. A porous structural unit has a partition wall protruding from the second side of the cathode separator and has a flow path for a second reactant gas to minimize a cooling temperature deviation and improve operational efficiency.