A polymer electrolyte membrane, a method for manufacturing the same, and a membrane electrode assembly containing the polymer electrolyte membrane are disclosed. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes: a fluorine-based support containing a plurality of pores due to polymer microfibrillar structures; a hybrid porous support placed on one side or both surfaces of the fluorine-based support and comprising nanowebs obtained by integrating nanofibers into a nonwoven fabric containing a plurality of pores; and ion conductors with which the pores of the porous support are filled. The polymer electrolyte membrane can reduce hydrogen permeability while being excellent in both durability and ion conductivity.

A polymer electrolyte membrane, a method for manufacturing the same, and a membrane electrode assembly containing the polymer electrolyte membrane are disclosed. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes: a fluorine-based support containing a plurality of pores due to polymer microfibrillar structures; a hybrid porous support placed on one side or both surfaces of the fluorine-based support and comprising nanowebs obtained by integrating nanofibers into a nonwoven fabric containing a plurality of pores; and ion conductors with which the pores of the porous support are filled. The polymer electrolyte membrane can reduce hydrogen permeability while being excellent in both durability and ion conductivity.

In order to improve usability of hybrid or fully electric aircraft, a fuel cell having improved efficiency and increased volume/weight specific energy density is provided. The fuel cell has a self-supporting membrane structure that is formed as a triply periodic level surface, which separates a first cavity supplied with gaseous fuel from a second cavity supplied with gaseous oxidizer in a gas-sealed manner while connecting the cavities in an ion-conductive manner.

A bipolar plate assembly includes a first frame member, a second frame member, and a membrane electrode assembly. The first frame member has a first side and a second side. The first side has a first side protuberance. The second frame member includes a first side and a second side. The second side has a second side recess. The membrane electrode assembly has an anode plate and a cathode plate. A portion of the membrane electrode assembly is disposed between the first frame member and the second frame member. The portion of the membrane electrode assembly has a juxtaposition of the anode plate and the cathode plate. The first side protuberance of the first frame member deforms the portion of the membrane electrode assembly into the second side recess of the second frame member.

A bipolar plate assembly includes a first frame member, a second frame member, and a membrane electrode assembly. The first frame member has a first side and a second side. The first side has a first side protuberance. The second frame member includes a first side and a second side. The second side has a second side recess. The membrane electrode assembly has an anode plate and a cathode plate. A portion of the membrane electrode assembly is disposed between the first frame member and the second frame member. The portion of the membrane electrode assembly has a juxtaposition of the anode plate and the cathode plate. The first side protuberance of the first frame member deforms the portion of the membrane electrode assembly into the second side recess of the second frame member.

A fuel cell module that suppress deterioration of an electrolyte membrane is provided. The fuel cell module includes a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) including a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer disposed on a surface of the membrane, a cathode catalyst layer disposed on the other surface of the membrane, and a pair of gas diffusion layers laminated on the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer respectively, a pair of separators sandwiching the MEA; and a sealing member sealing the MEA and each of the pair of separators together. One gas diffusion layer and the sealing member overlaps in a thickness direction within a region including a center-side edge of the sealing member, and the one gas diffusion layer is notched through in the thickness direction at a part of a portion corresponding to the region.

A plurality of anode wavy portions provided in an anode separator of a fuel cell have wavy patterns in the same phase, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the anode wavy portions at a first pitch. A plurality of cathode wavy portions provided in a cathode separator have wavy patterns in the same phase but in reverse phase with respect to the anode wavy portions, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the cathode wavy portions at a second pitch. The first pitch and the second pitch have different sizes.

A plurality of anode wavy portions provided in an anode separator of a fuel cell have wavy patterns in the same phase, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the anode wavy portions at a first pitch. A plurality of cathode wavy portions provided in a cathode separator have wavy patterns in the same phase but in reverse phase with respect to the anode wavy portions, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the cathode wavy portions at a second pitch. The first pitch and the second pitch have different sizes.

The present disclosure provides fuel cell units formed from a plurality of flow plate assemblies disposed in a stack configuration, with adjacent flow plate assemblies in the stack configuration disposed at an offset angle relative to each other. Fuel cell stacks can be formed from a plurality of the fuel cell units placed into a stack aligned with each other with no offset. The present disclosure also provides for methods of forming the fuel cell units, fuel cell stacks, and fuel cell systems containing the former.

The present disclosure provides fuel cell units formed from a plurality of flow plate assemblies disposed in a stack configuration, with adjacent flow plate assemblies in the stack configuration disposed at an offset angle relative to each other. Fuel cell stacks can be formed from a plurality of the fuel cell units placed into a stack aligned with each other with no offset. The present disclosure also provides for methods of forming the fuel cell units, fuel cell stacks, and fuel cell systems containing the former.