A membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that are capable of improving water release in a high current region, where a large amount of water is generated, without impairing water retention under low humidity conditions, and also capable of exhibiting high power generation performance and durability under high humidity conditions, and also reducing the production cost of the electrode catalyst layer. A membrane electrode assembly of the present embodiment includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrode catalyst layers sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane. At least one of the pair of electrode catalyst layers contains catalyst-supporting particles having a hydrophobic coating, hydrophobic polymer fibers, and a polymer electrolyte.

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes an ionically-conductive proton exchange membrane. Further, the MEA includes an anode contacting a first side of the membrane. The anode includes an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL). Further, the anode includes a first anode catalyst layer containing first catalyst particles, a hydrophobic polymer bonding agent, and a first ionomer bonding agent that lacks functional chains on a molecular backbone. The anode also includes a second anode catalyst layer containing second catalyst particles and a second ionomer bonding agent that includes functional chains on a molecular backbone. The MEA also includes a cathode contacting a second side of the membrane and comprising third catalyst particles and a cathode GDL.

Provided is an electrochemical cell, a power generation method using the electrochemical cell, and a manufacturing method of a hydrogen gas using the electrochemical cell that are suitable for the use in a temperature range between 200° C. and 600° C.

A fuel cell 1 (electrochemical cell) includes a proton conductor 5 represented by (Li, H).sub.14−2xZn.sub.1+x(GeO.sub.4).sub.4 where a portion of lithium ions of Li.sub.14−2xZn.sub.1+x(GeO.sub.4).sub.4 where x is a number equal to or more than 0 is substituted with protons, the proton conductor having electric conductivity of 0.01 S/cm or more at 300° C., an anode 6 provided on one side of the proton conductor, a cathode 7 provided on another side of the proton conductor, a first separator 9 provided on an anode side of the proton conductor to define an anode chamber 8, and a second separator 12 provided on a cathode side of the proton conductor to define a cathode chamber 11.

A proton conductor is in contact with a catalyst containing platinum. The proton conductor includes a cationic organic molecule, a metal ion, and an oxoacid anion. A protic ionic liquid containing the cationic organic molecule and the oxoacid anion is coordinated to the metal ion to form a coordination polymer.

A fuel cell electrode catalyst includes catalyst metal particles and electrically conductive support particles supporting the catalyst metal particles. In the fuel cell electrode catalyst, a proportion of a surface area occupied by the catalyst metal particles with particle sizes of 4.5 nm or less to a surface area of the catalyst metal particles calculated from a transmission electron microscope image is 5% or less.

A catalyst support material for an electrochemical system. The catalyst support material includes a metal material of SnWO.sub.4 reactive with H.sub.3O.sup.+, HF and/or SO.sub.3.sup.− to form reaction products in which the metal material of SnWO.sub.4 accounts for a stable molar percentage of the reaction products.

A cathode of a battery including an electrolyte membrane, containing a first layer which contains 0.3 mg/cm.sup.2 or more and 9.0 mg/cm.sup.2 or less of a carbon catalyst; and a second layer which is arranged between the electrolyte membrane and the first layer in the battery, and which contains 0.002 mg/cm.sup.2 or more and 0.190 mg/cm.sup.2 or less of platinum. The carbon catalyst has a ratio of a mesopore volume to a total pore volume of 30% or more.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a catalyst composition, wherein in an aqueous medium containing an iridium compound, at a pH 9, an iridium-containing solid is deposited on a support material, and the support material loaded with the iridium-containing solid is separated from the aqueous medium and dried, wherein, in the method, the support material loaded with the iridium-containing solid is not subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature of more than 250° C. for a period of time of longer than 1 hour.

The present invention refers to new membrane-electrode assembly (MBA), methods of producing the same as well as fuel cell comprising said MBA.

A catalyst support material for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The catalyst support material includes a metal material of an at least partially oxidized form of TiNb.sub.3O.sub.6 reactive with H.sub.3O.sup.+, HF and/or SO.sub.3.sup.− to form reaction products in which the metal material of the at least partially oxidized form of TiNb.sub.3O.sub.6 accounts for a stable molar percentage of the reaction products.