A polymer electrolyte membrane of the present disclosure comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid resin (A), wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane has a phase-separation structure having a phase where fluorine atoms are detected in majority and a phase where carbon atoms are detected in majority, in an image of a membrane surface observed under an SEM-EDX, and the polymer electrolyte membrane has a phase having an average aspect ratio of 1.5 or more and 10 or less in an image of a membrane cross-section observed under an SEM.

A method is proposed by means of which a composite layer is producible in as simple and controlled a manner as possible, and by means of which composite layers with different predetermined properties can be produced with as little expenditure as possible, and thus economically. The method includes: providing a nanofiber material, comminuting the nanofiber material while forming nanorods, providing a liquid medium, which comprises an ionomer component and a dispersant, dispersing the nanorods in the liquid medium while forming a nanorod ionomer dispersion, and applying the nanorod ionomer dispersion to a surface region of a substrate while forming a composite layer. An electrochemical unit including the composite layer is provided. The composite layer is useful in a fuel cell (hydrogen fuel cell or direct alcohol fuel cell), in a redox flow cell, in an electrolytic cell, or in an ion exchanger, and useful for anion or proton conduction.

A method is proposed by means of which a composite layer is producible in as simple and controlled a manner as possible, and by means of which composite layers with different predetermined properties can be produced with as little expenditure as possible, and thus economically. The method includes: providing a nanofiber material, comminuting the nanofiber material while forming nanorods, providing a liquid medium, which comprises an ionomer component and a dispersant, dispersing the nanorods in the liquid medium while forming a nanorod ionomer dispersion, and applying the nanorod ionomer dispersion to a surface region of a substrate while forming a composite layer. An electrochemical unit including the composite layer is provided. The composite layer is useful in a fuel cell (hydrogen fuel cell or direct alcohol fuel cell), in a redox flow cell, in an electrolytic cell, or in an ion exchanger, and useful for anion or proton conduction.

A method for producing an electrolyte solution including a supply step of continuously supplying an emulsion based a polymer electrolyte and a solvent into a dissolution facility, and a dissolution step of continuously dissolving the polymer electrolyte in the solvent by heating the interior of the dissolution facility to obtain the electrolyte solution.

A method for producing an electrolyte solution including a supply step of continuously supplying an emulsion based a polymer electrolyte and a solvent into a dissolution facility, and a dissolution step of continuously dissolving the polymer electrolyte in the solvent by heating the interior of the dissolution facility to obtain the electrolyte solution.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of producing a gas diffusion layer including a water repellent material dispersion preparation process in which a water repellent material, a viscosity adjusting agent and a solvent are mixed to obtain a water repellent material dispersion; an impregnation process in which a substrate is impregnated with the water repellent material dispersion; and a firing process in which the substrate impregnated with the water repellent material dispersion is fired, wherein the viscosity of the water repellent material dispersion in the water repellent material dispersion preparation process is 0.04 Pa.Math.s@100 s.sup.−1 or more.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of producing a gas diffusion layer including a water repellent material dispersion preparation process in which a water repellent material, a viscosity adjusting agent and a solvent are mixed to obtain a water repellent material dispersion; an impregnation process in which a substrate is impregnated with the water repellent material dispersion; and a firing process in which the substrate impregnated with the water repellent material dispersion is fired, wherein the viscosity of the water repellent material dispersion in the water repellent material dispersion preparation process is 0.04 Pa.Math.s@100 s.sup.−1 or more.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells capable of effectively removing hydrogen and/or air crossing over. Specifically, the method includes coating a slurry including at least an ionomer on a substrate to manufacture an ion transfer layer, manufacturing a laminate including the substrate and the ion transfer layer, and providing a pair of laminates to form an electrolyte membrane, wherein the ion transfer layer has a catalyst region formed at one side thereof based on a width-direction center line thereof, the catalyst region including a catalyst.

Provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising: (a) a polyelectrolyte having an ion exchange capacity of from 0.5 to 3.0 meq/g; and (b) at least one scandium compound selected from the group consisting of scandium oxide, scandium acetate, scandium sulfate, scandium nitrate, and scandium carbonate, wherein a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-derived compound in the polymer electrolyte membrane has a total content of 10 ppm or less.

Provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising: (a) a polyelectrolyte having an ion exchange capacity of from 0.5 to 3.0 meq/g; and (b) at least one scandium compound selected from the group consisting of scandium oxide, scandium acetate, scandium sulfate, scandium nitrate, and scandium carbonate, wherein a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-derived compound in the polymer electrolyte membrane has a total content of 10 ppm or less.