A metal support for an electrochemical element has a plate shape as a whole, and is provided with a plurality of penetration spaces that pass through the metal support from a front face to a back face. The front face is a face to be provided with an electrode layer. Each of front-side openings that are openings of the penetration spaces formed in the front face has an area of 3.0×10.sup.−4 mm.sup.2 or more and 3.0×10.sup.−3 mm.sup.2 or less.

Provided are a cell (1), a cell stack device (20), a module (30), and a module housing device (40). The cell 1 includes a metal plate (2) having a pair of surfaces, which are a first surface (2a) and a second surface (2b) that face each other, an element portion (6) disposed on the first surface (2a) of the metal plate (2), and including a first electrode layer (3), a solid electrolyte layer (4) located on the first electrode layer (3), and a second electrode layer (5) located on the solid electrolyte layer (4), and an intermediate layer (9) located between the first surface (2a) and the first electrode layer (3). The intermediate layer (9) has a plurality of first through holes penetrating through the intermediate layer (9) in a thickness direction.

A method for bonding a solid electrolyte layer and electrodes used a fuel cell includes: laminating the solid electrolyte layer and the electrodes so that the electrodes sandwich the solid electrolyte layer therebetween; applying a first voltage of a first polarity between the electrodes sandwiching the solid electrolyte layer; and applying a second voltage of a second polarity that is the reverse of the first polarity between the electrodes sandwiching the solid electrolyte layer.

A cell includes an element portion including a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer that contains Zr and that is located above the first electrode layer, an intermediate layer that contains CeO.sub.2 containing a rare earth element other than Ce and that is located above the solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer located above the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a first intermediate layer and a second intermediate layer that contains Zr and Ce and that is located at at least a portion between the first intermediate layer and the solid electrolyte layer. In a plan view from the second electrode layer, the second intermediate layer located at an outer peripheral portion of the intermediate layer includes a portion with a thickness greater than the second intermediate layer overlapping a center of the second electrode layer. A cell stack device, a module, and a module housing device include a plurality of the cells.

Provided are a metal plate configured such that sufficient strength and performance are ensured and the workability and cost of mass production are improved, and an electrochemical element and the like including the metal plate. A metal plate 1 includes a thick portion 110, and a thin portion 120 that is thinner than the thick portion 110. The thin portion 120 is provided with a penetration space 1c passing through the thin portion 120 in the thickness direction.

Provided are a metal plate configured such that sufficient strength and performance are ensured and the workability and cost of mass production are improved, and an electrochemical element and the like including the metal plate. A metal plate 1 includes a thick portion 110, and a thin portion 120 that is thinner than the thick portion 110. The thin portion 120 is provided with a penetration space 1c passing through the thin portion 120 in the thickness direction.

A bonding device of a fuel cell part is disclosed. The bonding device of the fuel cell part may bond an upper gas diffusion layer and a lower gas diffusion layer to top and bottom surfaces of an MEA base material through adhesive layers, while disposing the MEA base material between the upper gas diffusion layer and the lower gas diffusion layer, and may include: a lower die that supports the MEA base material, the upper gas diffusion layer, and the lower gas diffusion layer to be bonded with each other; an upper die installed in an upper side of the lower die; and an ultrasonic wave vibration source that is installed to be capable of moving in a vertical direction at opposite sides of the upper die, compressing the upper gas diffusion layer, and applying ultrasonic wave vibration energy to the adhesive layer.

A bonding device of a fuel cell part is disclosed. The bonding device of the fuel cell part may bond an upper gas diffusion layer and a lower gas diffusion layer to top and bottom surfaces of an MEA base material through adhesive layers, while disposing the MEA base material between the upper gas diffusion layer and the lower gas diffusion layer, and may include: a lower die that supports the MEA base material, the upper gas diffusion layer, and the lower gas diffusion layer to be bonded with each other; an upper die installed in an upper side of the lower die; and an ultrasonic wave vibration source that is installed to be capable of moving in a vertical direction at opposite sides of the upper die, compressing the upper gas diffusion layer, and applying ultrasonic wave vibration energy to the adhesive layer.

A planar SOFC cell unit is formed from a plurality of planar elements (1100, 1200, 1300) stacked one above another. The cell unit encloses a cell chamber (1400) that includes a solid oxide fuel cell (2000) configured for electro-chemical generation, compliantly supported within the cell chamber. The plurality planar elements each comprise a thermally conductive material having a co-efficient of thermal conductivity that is a least 100 W/mK such as aluminum or copper. The planar elements are thermally conductively coupled to each other to provide a continuous thermally conductive pathway that extends from perimeter edges of the cell chamber to perimeter edges of the plurality of planar elements. An SOFC stack comprises a plurality of the planar SOFC cell units stacked one above another.

A planar SOFC cell unit is formed from a plurality of planar elements (1100, 1200, 1300) stacked one above another. The cell unit encloses a cell chamber (1400) that includes a solid oxide fuel cell (2000) configured for electro-chemical generation, compliantly supported within the cell chamber. The plurality planar elements each comprise a thermally conductive material having a co-efficient of thermal conductivity that is a least 100 W/mK such as aluminum or copper. The planar elements are thermally conductively coupled to each other to provide a continuous thermally conductive pathway that extends from perimeter edges of the cell chamber to perimeter edges of the plurality of planar elements. An SOFC stack comprises a plurality of the planar SOFC cell units stacked one above another.