Disclosed are selectively-permeable membranes and components configured for selective permeation of a specified gas, such as oxygen, therethrough, methods for making the same and methods for using the same, for example, to implement fuel cells and electrochemical cells.

A fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer includes a sheet-like porous body layer, and a plurality of gas passage grooves formed on one surface of the porous body layer in parallel and formed in a zigzag shape or a wave shape respectively. As viewed in a plan view, a first rectangular region where circumscribes one gas passage groove and a second rectangular region where circumscribes a gas passage groove adjacent to the one gas passage groove overlap along a region in contact each other. An overlapping region where the first rectangular region and the second rectangular region overlap exists at any depth position of the grooves. According to the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer, it is possible to increase a power generation efficiency of a fuel cell.

A fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer includes a sheet-like porous body layer, and a plurality of gas passage grooves formed on one surface of the porous body layer in parallel and formed in a zigzag shape or a wave shape respectively. As viewed in a plan view, a first rectangular region where circumscribes one gas passage groove and a second rectangular region where circumscribes a gas passage groove adjacent to the one gas passage groove overlap along a region in contact each other. An overlapping region where the first rectangular region and the second rectangular region overlap exists at any depth position of the grooves. According to the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer, it is possible to increase a power generation efficiency of a fuel cell.

In the present invention, a water-based wetting dispersant having an acid value of 5 mg KOH/g or more and an amine value of 10 mg KOH/g or less is used to dilute and disperse black carbon and a hydrophobic fluorine resin in an organic solvent to manufacture a slurry for microporous layer formation. In this regard, the added amount of the water-based wetting dispersant is adjusted to 5 to 30 parts by weight on the basis of 100 parts by weight of black carbon. In the present invention, the slurry is applied to at least one surface of carbon fiber paper and dried to form a microporous layer in which two independent peaks appear as analyzed on a particle size graph, followed by compression and deposition thereof to fabricate a gas diffusion layer including the microporous layer in which two independent peaks appear as analyzed on a particle size graph. With the appearance of two independent peaks on a particle size analysis graph, the gas diffusion layer of the present invention has an excellent drainage function, thereby increasing in the current value of the concentration polarization curve at the equivalent voltage value.

A paper suitable for use as a separator paper in electrochemical cells and an electrochemical cell comprising same, the paper comprising as the sole fibrous components 95 to 100 weight percent fibrils and 0 to 5 weight percent aramid fibrids and having a thickness of 10 to 40 micrometers and a tensile strength of at least 15 megapascals or greater, the fibrils comprising a polymer blend of 80 to 96 weight percent polyparaphenylene terephthalamide and 4 to 20 weight percent of polyvinylpyrrolidone; the fibrils having a diameter of 10 to 2000 nanometers, a length of 0.2 to 3 millimeters, a surface area of 3 to 40 square meters/gram, and a Canadian Standard Freeness of 0 to 10 milliliters.

A paper suitable for use as a separator paper in electrochemical cells and an electrochemical cell comprising same, the paper comprising as the sole fibrous components 95 to 100 weight percent fibrils and 0 to 5 weight percent aramid fibrids and having a thickness of 10 to 40 micrometers and a tensile strength of at least 15 megapascals or greater, the fibrils comprising a polymer blend of 80 to 96 weight percent polyparaphenylene terephthalamide and 4 to 20 weight percent of polyvinylpyrrolidone; the fibrils having a diameter of 10 to 2000 nanometers, a length of 0.2 to 3 millimeters, a surface area of 3 to 40 square meters/gram, and a Canadian Standard Freeness of 0 to 10 milliliters.

A separator and an energy-storing electrochemical device are disclosed, the separator includes a porous substrate and a first coating located on at least one surface of the porous substrate. The first coating includes a first polymer binder and first inorganic particles, and the first polymer binder comprising core-shell structured particles. The first inorganic particles are used in the first coating, ensuring that the first polymer binder has a bonding function, electrolyte transport is promoted, and the rate performance of the electrochemical device is improved.

The processing apparatus includes: a first roller 10 around which a gas-diffusion layer sheet (carbon paper CP) is wound, the gas-diffusion layer sheet being an electrically conductive porous member; a second roller 20 configured to take up the carbon paper CP wound around the first roller 10; and a processing oven configured to heat process a portion of the carbon paper CP, the portion having been fed from the first roller 10 but not yet taken up by the second roller 20. A heat-resistant lead LE is provided, the heat-resistant lead LE having a length at least extending from the first roller 10 to the second roller 20 through the processing oven, being configured to be taken up by the second roller 20, and being bonded to the carbon paper CP impregnated with a thermosetting resin AD.

A tab of a load receiver forming a fuel cell separator member includes a base portion in the form of a metal plate, and a resin member covering the base portion. A hole, into which the resin member is partially inserted, is formed in the base portion. The resin member includes a thick portion, and a thin portion positioned closer to a first separator than the thick portion is. The hole is disposed so as to be overlapped with the thick portion.

A tab of a load receiver forming a fuel cell separator member includes a base portion in the form of a metal plate, and a resin member covering the base portion. A hole, into which the resin member is partially inserted, is formed in the base portion. The resin member includes a thick portion, and a thin portion positioned closer to a first separator than the thick portion is. The hole is disposed so as to be overlapped with the thick portion.