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.

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.

A molding die for molding, on a surface of a plate-like base material, an endless-shaped gasket made of an elastic material includes a cavity which is formed on the opposing surface opposed to the surface of the base material and corresponds to the shape of the gasket, a gate for introducing a molding material which is cured to become an elastic material, a first intermediate portion connecting a gate opening and the cavity and a cross section along the base surface has an area equal to or larger than an opening area of the gate opening, a vent discharging gas unnecessary for molding, and a second intermediate portion connecting an opening on the cavity portion side of the vent extending along the base surface and the cavity and a cross section along the base surface has a cross-sectional area equal to or larger than an area of the gate opening.

The invention relates to a method for the media-tight connection of two plate-shaped components (1, 2), in particular two monopolar plates for the production of a bipolar plate, comprising the steps of: placing the first component (1) on a surface of a clamping device, placing the second component (2) on the first component (1), closing the clamping device, setting a first weld seam (3) on the second component (2), wherein a welding depth (t) is selected that is less than a material thickness (s) of the second component (2), with the result that a bend (5) is formed along the first weld seam (3) owing to the welding distortion, via which bend the second component (2) comes into linear contact with the first component (1), setting a connecting weld seam (4) on the first weld seam (3), with the result that the two components (1, 2) are welded to one another along the bend (5).

The invention relates to a method for producing a fuel cell with a membrane electrode assembly (1), wherein at least sections thereof are surrounded by a sub-gasket (2). According to the invention, in order to form the sub-gasket (2), at least sections of the membrane electrode assembly (1) are introduced into a film sleeve (3), the film sleeve (3) is pressed together so that at least regions of two film sleeve halves lie on top of one another, and the overlapping film sleeve halves are connected, preferably adhered, to one another.

The invention also relates to a fuel cell.

The invention relates to a method for producing a fuel cell with a membrane electrode assembly (1), wherein at least sections thereof are surrounded by a sub-gasket (2). According to the invention, in order to form the sub-gasket (2), at least sections of the membrane electrode assembly (1) are introduced into a film sleeve (3), the film sleeve (3) is pressed together so that at least regions of two film sleeve halves lie on top of one another, and the overlapping film sleeve halves are connected, preferably adhered, to one another.

The invention also relates to a fuel cell.