Provided is an alloy material including a metal oxide thin layer that can be formed using a simple method at low cost and can further suppress volatilization of Cr, which causes deterioration of a fuel cell, compared with a case where conventional expensive materials are used. Disclosed is a manufacturing method for an alloy material including a coating treatment step for coating a substrate made of a Fe—Cr based alloy with Co, and an oxidation treatment step for performing oxidation treatment on the substrate in a moisture-containing atmosphere after the coating treatment step.

Realized is an element having an electrolyte layer that is dense and has high gas barrier characteristics. A metal-supported electrochemical element includes at least a metal substrate as a support, an electrode layer formed on/over the metal substrate, a buffer layer formed on the electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer formed on the buffer layer. The electrode layer is porous and the electrolyte layer is dense. The buffer layer has density higher than density of the electrode layer and lower than density of the electrolyte layer.

Realized is an element having an electrolyte layer that is dense and has high gas barrier characteristics. A metal-supported electrochemical element includes at least a metal substrate as a support, an electrode layer formed on/over the metal substrate, a buffer layer formed on the electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer formed on the buffer layer. The electrode layer is porous and the electrolyte layer is dense. The buffer layer has density higher than density of the electrode layer and lower than density of the electrolyte layer.

A bipolar plate for a fuel cell includes a corrugated plate and a second plate, which is arranged on the corrugated plate in a sealing manner. The corrugated plate has a wave pattern of ascending and descending waves. The corrugated plate has a hole pattern with between one and three parallel rows arranged to for the passage of a gas substantially transversely to the wave shape. Hole sizes and shaped in these three rows are selected in specified relationships to optimize the fuel cell performance.

A fuel cell stack including: a metal-supported cell including a power generation cell formed of paired electrodes and an electrolyte sandwiched from both sides between the paired electrodes, and a metal supporting portion which is made of metal and which supports the power generation cell; a separator defining and forming a flow passage portion for gas flow between the separator and the power generation cell; a welded portion in which the metal-supported cell and the separator are welded to each other; a spring portion configured to apply absorption reaction force for absorbing displacement in a stacking direction in the welded portion to the metal-supported cell; and a stopper portion configured to restrict a displacement amount of the spring portion.

Provided are an electrochemical element and the like that have both durability and high performance as well as excellent reliability. The electrochemical element includes a metal support, and an electrode layer formed on/over the metal support. The metal support is made of any one of a Fe—Cr based alloy that contains Ti in an amount of 0.15 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less, a Fe—Cr based alloy that contains Zr in an amount of 0.15 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less, and a Fe—Cr based alloy that contains Ti and Zr, a total content of Ti and Zr being 0.15 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less.

A porous metal body including a skeleton having a three-dimensional mesh-like structure, the porous metal body having a plate-like overall shape. The skeleton has a hollow structure and includes a primary metal layer and at least one of a first microporous layer and a second microporous layer. The primary metal layer is composed of nickel or a nickel alloy. The first microporous layer contains nickel and chromium and is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the primary metal layer. The second microporous layer contains nickel and chromium and is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the primary metal layer, the inner peripheral surface facing the hollow space of the skeleton.

A porous metal body including a skeleton having a three-dimensional mesh-like structure, the porous metal body having a plate-like overall shape. The skeleton has a hollow structure and includes a primary metal layer and at least one of a first microporous layer and a second microporous layer. The primary metal layer is composed of nickel or a nickel alloy. The first microporous layer contains nickel and chromium and is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the primary metal layer. The second microporous layer contains nickel and chromium and is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the primary metal layer, the inner peripheral surface facing the hollow space of the skeleton.

Provided are a low-cost electrochemical device and the like that have both durability and high performance as well as excellent reliability. The electrochemical device includes at least one metal material, and the metal material is made of a Fe—Cr alloy that contains Ti in an amount of more than 0.10 mass % and 1.0 mass % or less.

The invention relates to a method for a fabrication of a pore comprising membrane and a pore comprising membrane. The pore comprising membrane (1) comprises at least a porous metallic layer (3) on a porous substrate (6), wherein the porous metallic layer (3) is connected to the porous substrate (6) and the pores (4) of the metallic layer (3) overlap at least partially with the pores (7) of the porous substrate (6). The method comprises at least the following steps: i) deposition of the metallic layer (3) onto a support material (2), wherein the deposited metallic layer (3) forms a plurality of feedthroughs, in particular a percolation network on the support material (2), ii) removal of the support material (2), iii) connecting of the metallic layer (3) with the porous substrate (6) such that pores (4) of the metallic layer (3) overlap at least partially with the pores (7) of the porous substrate (6).