A fuel cell capable of reducing the stress exerted upon an electrolyte membrane resulting from the swelling and contraction of the electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell includes at least an MEGA with catalyst layers joined to the opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators disposed so as to sandwich the MEGA. The MEGA generates power with a hydrogen gas fed to one side of the MEGA and with an oxidant gas fed to the other side. Separators each have a plurality of projections formed on the side of the MEGA so as to form a gas channel through which the hydrogen gas or oxidant gas flows between the projections. The electrolyte membrane has a plurality of through-holes formed at positions facing the projections along the direction in which the projections extend.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for manufacturing a fuel cell that ensures developing a high adhesive strength to a separator. One aspect of an embodiment is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell where a pair of separators are mutually bonded with a sealing member. The sealing member includes a thermoplastic resin containing a crystalline polymer as an adhesive layer. The method for manufacturing the fuel cell includes: preparing a stack structure in which the sealing member is disposed between the pair of separators; heating the stack structure at a melting point or higher of the thermoplastic resin; after the heating, holding the stack structure in a temperature range of ±10° C. of a crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin to promote a crystallization of the thermoplastic resin; and after the holding, further cooling the stack structure.

A fuel cell assembly is provided comprising a membrane electrode assembly that includes a membrane and a first electrode, which is arranged on a first side of the membrane and to which a first gas diffusion layer is assigned. The fuel cell assembly further includes a frame and an adhesive layer directly bonding the membrane electrode assembly to the frame at least in certain areas at an edge area of the membrane electrode assembly. The adhesive layer penetrates the first electrode, and the membrane is directly bonded to the frame as a result of this penetration. A fuel cell system and a fuel cell vehicle comprising such a fuel cell assembly are also provided.

A fuel cell stack includes: a cell stack body including a plurality of power generation cells stacked together; and a stack case accommodating the cell stack body. Each of the power generation cells includes a membrane electrode assembly and separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly therebetween.

Provided is a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly including an electrolyte membrane; a sheet member; and a pair of separators. A first separator has a first projection that protrudes toward a side opposite from where the electrolyte membrane is disposed. A second separator has a second projection that protrudes toward a side opposite from where the electrolyte membrane is disposed. When seen from a direction perpendicular to the electrolyte membrane, the first projection and the second projection overlap at least part of the electrolyte membrane; the first projection has a first overlapping portion and a first non-overlapping portion; the second projection has a second overlapping portion and a second non-overlapping portion; the first projection is shaped so as to extend in a first longitudinal direction; and the second projection is shaped so as to extend in a second longitudinal direction intersecting the first longitudinal direction.

A fuel cell assembly includes an electrode member that has a membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane and an electrode catalyst layer, and gas diffusion layers; a solid rubber gasket that is disposed in a frame shape on an outward side of the electrode member in a surface direction; and a bonding member that is disposed in a frame shape on the outward side of the electrode member in the surface direction, is bonded to the electrode member and the gasket, and integrates these. A form of bonding the bonding member to the electrode member is at least one of impregnation with the gas diffusion layers and bonding to the membrane electrode assembly. A thickness of the bonding member is equal to or larger than a thickness of the gas diffusion layer, and at least a portion on a surface of the bonding member is coated with the gasket.

A fuel cell stack at least includes a stack body including a plurality of power generation cells each having a membrane electrode assembly stacked in a stacking direction, and a first dummy cell provided at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction. A dummy structural body of the first dummy cell is joined to a dummy resin frame member through an adhesive layer which adheres a first outer peripheral portion and a second outer peripheral portion, and inner periphery of the dummy resin frame member to each other.

A fuel cell stack at least includes a stack body including a plurality of power generation cells each having a membrane electrode assembly stacked in a stacking direction, and a first dummy cell provided at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction. A dummy structural body of the first dummy cell is joined to a dummy resin frame member through an adhesive layer which adheres a first outer peripheral portion and a second outer peripheral portion, and inner periphery of the dummy resin frame member to each other.

A single cell for a fuel cell stack is provided, having a membrane electrode assembly arranged in an active region, being associated with at least one single plate, which is formed with a flow field to supply an operating medium to the active region of the membrane electrode assembly, which is fluidically connected to a media port present on the side away from the active region. Lateral with respect to the membrane electrode assembly there is a lamella at least partly covering the flow cross section of the media port, which is formed to be elastically bendable by the force of a reaction medium flowing axially through the media port in order to change the useful flow cross section of the media port. A fuel cell stack having a plurality of such single cells is also provided.

A single cell for a fuel cell stack is provided, having a membrane electrode assembly arranged in an active region, being associated with at least one single plate, which is formed with a flow field to supply an operating medium to the active region of the membrane electrode assembly, which is fluidically connected to a media port present on the side away from the active region. Lateral with respect to the membrane electrode assembly there is a lamella at least partly covering the flow cross section of the media port, which is formed to be elastically bendable by the force of a reaction medium flowing axially through the media port in order to change the useful flow cross section of the media port. A fuel cell stack having a plurality of such single cells is also provided.