A membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode, an anode, a proton-conductive membrane arranged between the cathode and the anode and a sealing frame which surrounds the cathode, the anode and the membrane at the edges thereof, wherein in the inner region of the sealing frame at least mutually superposed subregions of the cathode, of the anode and of the membrane are exposed, wherein the sealing frame in the layer thickness direction comprises a first sealing layer and a second sealing layer which are bonded to each other by an adhesive and wherein the first sealing layer and/or the second sealing layer has a reinforcement structure.

A membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode, an anode, a proton-conductive membrane arranged between the cathode and the anode and a sealing frame which surrounds the cathode, the anode and the membrane at the edges thereof, wherein in the inner region of the sealing frame at least mutually superposed subregions of the cathode, of the anode and of the membrane are exposed, wherein the sealing frame in the layer thickness direction comprises a first sealing layer and a second sealing layer which are bonded to each other by an adhesive and wherein the first sealing layer and/or the second sealing layer has a reinforcement structure.

Disclosed are a separator for fuel cells capable of minimizing the volume of a system and the use of sealants, and a stack for fuel cells, more particularly, a stack for solid oxide fuel cells, including the same. Specifically, by adding a metal sheet having a specific shape, position and size to the separator, the stress applied to the sealant can be uniformized, and thus the oxidizing agent and fuel can be separated and electrically isolated using only a piece of sealant. Therefore, the stack for fuel cells is characterized in that there is no variation in temperature, reactant concentration, power, or the like between respective unit cells, so delamination and microcracks do not occur, the volume is minimized, and the power density per unit volume is very high.

The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

A gasket for sealing two mating surfaces of a fuel cell is described. The gasket has a core layer comprising exfoliated vermiculite. The core layer is interposed between a first and second coating layer, the said coating layers each comprising glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic material. Methods for producing gaskets according to the invention are also described. A solid oxide cell or a solid oxide cell component comprising one or more of the gaskets; use of the gasket to improve sealing properties in a solid oxide cell; and a method of producing a solid oxide cell or of sealing a solid oxide cell comprising incorporating at least one of the gaskets into the solid oxide cell are also defined.

A gasket for sealing two mating surfaces of a fuel cell is described. The gasket has a core layer comprising exfoliated vermiculite. The core layer is interposed between a first and second coating layer, the said coating layers each comprising glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic material. Methods for producing gaskets according to the invention are also described. A solid oxide cell or a solid oxide cell component comprising one or more of the gaskets; use of the gasket to improve sealing properties in a solid oxide cell; and a method of producing a solid oxide cell or of sealing a solid oxide cell comprising incorporating at least one of the gaskets into the solid oxide cell are also defined.

Disclosed is a sealing glass composition substantially not containing B.sub.2O.sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, which is a high-strength, high-expansive crystallizing glass composition that can be used at high temperatures of not less than 950° C. The composition substantially not containing boron oxide, alkali metal oxides or aluminum oxide, but containing, in mol %, SiO.sub.2: 40-55, BaO: 18-35, TiO.sub.2+ZrO.sub.2: 0.1-10, ZnO: 0-15, CaO: 0-20, MgO: 0-9, SrO: 0-5, and La.sub.2O.sub.3: 0-2, wherein the total content of RO (R: Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn) is at least 44 mol %, and wherein the glass composition, when fired in the form of glass powder at a temperature of 850-1050° C, turns into a crystallized glass that exhibits a thermal expansion coefficient of 90-150×10.sup.−7/° C. in the range of 50-850° C.

Disclosed is a sealing glass composition substantially not containing B.sub.2O.sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, which is a high-strength, high-expansive crystallizing glass composition that can be used at high temperatures of not less than 950° C. The composition substantially not containing boron oxide, alkali metal oxides or aluminum oxide, but containing, in mol %, SiO.sub.2: 40-55, BaO: 18-35, TiO.sub.2+ZrO.sub.2: 0.1-10, ZnO: 0-15, CaO: 0-20, MgO: 0-9, SrO: 0-5, and La.sub.2O.sub.3: 0-2, wherein the total content of RO (R: Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn) is at least 44 mol %, and wherein the glass composition, when fired in the form of glass powder at a temperature of 850-1050° C, turns into a crystallized glass that exhibits a thermal expansion coefficient of 90-150×10.sup.−7/° C. in the range of 50-850° C.

An article having a metallic layer and a glass layer, and a method for preventing or reducing a chemical reaction between a metallic layer and a glass layer are disclosed. The article has a barrier layer disposed between the metallic layer and the glass layer. The barrier layer includes alumina and a phosphate. The phosphate includes an aluminum dihydrogen phosphate, an aluminum-containing phosphate, a phosphate of an element of the metallic layer, a phosphate of an element of the glass layer, or combinations thereof. The method includes disposing a barrier layer between the metallic layer and the glass layer.