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.

A separator for a fuel cell includes a facing surface configured to face a power generating unit of the fuel cell. Groove passages and ribs that protrude toward the power generating unit are provided on the facing surface. At least one of the ribs includes at least one recess in a center of the rib in an arrangement direction of the groove passages. The recess includes a bottom surface, which faces the power generating unit, and two inner side surfaces, which rise from opposite ends in the arrangement direction of the bottom surface. The two inner side surfaces are inclined such that a given point on each inner side surface separates further away from the bottom surface in the arrangement direction as that point approaches the power generating unit in a direction in which the power generating unit and the separator face each other.

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.

A sheet attaching apparatus includes a gripping mechanism that grips one end portion, in a longitudinal direction, of a first sheet that has been drawn out from a first supply roll; a moving mechanism that allows the first sheet to be attached to a second sheet by moving the gripping mechanism to cause the first sheet to approach and contact the second sheet that passes through an attaching portion provided in a feeding path; and a releasing mechanism that releases a grip of the gripping mechanism on the first sheet, after the first sheet has contacted the second sheet.

A sheet attaching apparatus includes a gripping mechanism that grips one end portion, in a longitudinal direction, of a first sheet that has been drawn out from a first supply roll; a moving mechanism that allows the first sheet to be attached to a second sheet by moving the gripping mechanism to cause the first sheet to approach and contact the second sheet that passes through an attaching portion provided in a feeding path; and a releasing mechanism that releases a grip of the gripping mechanism on the first sheet, after the first sheet has contacted the second sheet.

A catalyst layer comprising an interface to a polyelectrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer includes a layer forming material, which includes a catalytic substance, a conductive carrier which supports the catalytic substance, a polyelectrolyte, and a fibrous material, and a plurality of pores which contain no layer forming material. A pore area ratio which is a total area ratio of the plurality of pores to an area of a cross-section orthogonal to the interface is 25.0% or more and 35.0% or less in a cross-sectional image captured by a scanning electron microscope.

A catalyst layer comprising an interface to a polyelectrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer includes a layer forming material, which includes a catalytic substance, a conductive carrier which supports the catalytic substance, a polyelectrolyte, and a fibrous material, and a plurality of pores which contain no layer forming material. A pore area ratio which is a total area ratio of the plurality of pores to an area of a cross-section orthogonal to the interface is 25.0% or more and 35.0% or less in a cross-sectional image captured by a scanning electron microscope.

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.