Simple membrane electrode and frame assemblies for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack and improved methods for making them are disclosed which involve the use of a single adhesive layer. Using an appropriate design, the single adhesive layer can provide multiple bonds, including a bond between one of the gas diffusion layers and a catalyst coated membrane assembly, between the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame, and between either the other of the gas diffusion layers and the frame, or between an uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame.

Simple membrane electrode and frame assemblies for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack and improved methods for making them are disclosed which involve the use of a single adhesive layer. Using an appropriate design, the single adhesive layer can provide multiple bonds, including a bond between one of the gas diffusion layers and a catalyst coated membrane assembly, between the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame, and between either the other of the gas diffusion layers and the frame, or between an uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame.

The present invention provides: a laminate for a gasket of a fuel cell, the laminate including a heat seal layer, having excellent moisture and heat resistance, and being suitable for a gasket of a fuel cell; a gasket; a membrane electrode junction including the gasket; and a fuel cell. A laminate includes a base material and a heat seal layer arranged on the base material. The heat seal layer is a reaction product of a heat sealant containing an amorphous polyester polyol (A), an epoxy resin (B), and an isocyanate compound (C). The amorphous polyester polyol (A) is a reaction product of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. An amount of aromatic polyvalent carboxylic acid in the polyvalent carboxylic acid is 95% by mass or more. A glass transition temperature of the amorphous polyester polyol (A) is −20° C. or more and 40° C. or less.

The present invention provides: a laminate for a gasket of a fuel cell, the laminate including a heat seal layer, having excellent moisture and heat resistance, and being suitable for a gasket of a fuel cell; a gasket; a membrane electrode junction including the gasket; and a fuel cell. A laminate includes a base material and a heat seal layer arranged on the base material. The heat seal layer is a reaction product of a heat sealant containing an amorphous polyester polyol (A), an epoxy resin (B), and an isocyanate compound (C). The amorphous polyester polyol (A) is a reaction product of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. An amount of aromatic polyvalent carboxylic acid in the polyvalent carboxylic acid is 95% by mass or more. A glass transition temperature of the amorphous polyester polyol (A) is −20° C. or more and 40° C. or less.

An elastomeric cell frame for a fuel cell includes an insert which includes: a membrane electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrode layers respectively disposed on opposite sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed and bonded on upper and lower surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly, respectively. The insert further includes an elastomeric frame disposed in an external region of the insert. The elastomeric frame surrounds one of opposite edge surfaces of the insert and a side surface of the insert, the elastomeric frame being interface-bonded, through thermal bonding, to portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrode layers exposed at the one of opposite edge surfaces of the insert and the side surface of the insert.

An elastomeric cell frame for a fuel cell includes an insert which includes: a membrane electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrode layers respectively disposed on opposite sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed and bonded on upper and lower surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly, respectively. The insert further includes an elastomeric frame disposed in an external region of the insert. The elastomeric frame surrounds one of opposite edge surfaces of the insert and a side surface of the insert, the elastomeric frame being interface-bonded, through thermal bonding, to portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrode layers exposed at the one of opposite edge surfaces of the insert and the side surface of the insert.

A gas diffusion assembly for a fuel cell includes: a sheetlike gas diffusion layer disposed on a carrier substrate, a sealing arrangement being disposed on at least one main side of the carrier substrate, and a connecting portion of the sealing arrangement being assigned to a surrounding edge of the gas diffusion layer, the connecting portion forming a sealing bead. The connecting portion fastens the gas diffusion layer with material bonding on the carrier substrate.

A gas diffusion assembly for a fuel cell includes: a sheetlike gas diffusion layer disposed on a carrier substrate, a sealing arrangement being disposed on at least one main side of the carrier substrate, and a connecting portion of the sealing arrangement being assigned to a surrounding edge of the gas diffusion layer, the connecting portion forming a sealing bead. The connecting portion fastens the gas diffusion layer with material bonding on the carrier substrate.

Herein disclosed is a method of treating a component of a fuel cell, which includes the step of exposing the component of the fuel cell to a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The component comprises a first material. The EMR has a wavelength ranging from 10 to 1500 nm and the EMR has a minimum energy density of 0.1 Joule/cm2. Preferably, the treatment process has one or more of the following effects: heating, drying, curing, sintering, annealing, sealing, alloying, evaporating, restructuring, foaming. In an embodiment, the substrate is a component in a fuel cell. Such component comprises an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, a catalyst, a barrier layer, a interconnect, a reformer, or reformer catalyst. In an embodiment, the substrate is a layer in a fuel cell or a portion of a layer in a fuel cell or a combination of layers in a fuel cell or a combination of partial layers in a fuel cell.

An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.