An electrochemical reaction cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA is positioned between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The anode electrode, the cathode electrode, and the MEA each have a corrugated shape and are contained within a recess of a housing.

A polymer electrolyte membrane, a method for manufacturing the same, and a membrane electrode assembly containing the polymer electrolyte membrane are disclsosed. 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 disclsosed. 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.

Electrolyte membrane electrode structures that constitute a fuel cell according to the present invention have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane electrode structures are sealed in a laminate layer which is obtained by bonding an anode-side porous film that covers the anode electrode and a cathode-side porous film that covers the cathode electrodes with each other.

Electrolyte membrane electrode structures that constitute a fuel cell according to the present invention have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane electrode structures are sealed in a laminate layer which is obtained by bonding an anode-side porous film that covers the anode electrode and a cathode-side porous film that covers the cathode electrodes with each other.

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.

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 stainless steel sheet for fuel cell separators comprises: a predetermined chemical composition; and fine precipitates containing Cr and Ti at a steel sheet surface, wherein an average equivalent circular diameter of the fine precipitates is 20 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and a number of the fine precipitates existing per 1 m.sup.2 at the steel sheet surface is three or more.