METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FUEL CELL, AND FUEL CELL

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A method for producing a fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly (1), which is at least partly enclosed by a sub-gasket (2), the method comprising the following steps: to form the sub-gasket (2), the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted at least partly into a film sleeve (3), thereafter the film sleeve (3) is pressed together so that at least some regions of two halves of the film sleeve lie on top of one another, and thereafter the film sleeve halves lying on top of one another are connected to one another.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, prior to insertion of the membrane electrode assembly (1) into the film sleeve (3), at least one window-like opening (4) is created in the film sleeve (3).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into the film sleeve (3), active regions (5) configured on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly (1) are positioned within the at least one window-like opening (4).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into a first film sleeve (3) and an other end of the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into a second film sleeve (3), the first and second film sleeves (3) are respectively pressed together and respective film sleeve halves of the first and second film sleeves lying on top of one another are connected to one another.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted fully into the film sleeve (3), so that a respective film sleeve end extends beyond the membrane electrode assembly (1) on either side.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, prior to insertion of the membrane electrode assembly (1) into the film sleeve (3), the inside of the film sleeve (3) is coated with a glue.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into the film sleeve (3), the film sleeve (3) is pressed together and halves of the film sleeve lying on top of one another are connected, and at least one supply opening (6) is created in the two film sleeve halves lying on top of one another.

8. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one window-like opening (4) is created in a punching process.

9. A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly (1), which is at least partly enclosed by a sub-gasket (2), characterized in that the sub-gasket (2) is made of at least one film sleeve (3).

10. The fuel cell according to claim 9, characterized in that the film sleeve (3) comprises two film sleeve halves, at least some regions of which lie on top of one another and which are connected to one another.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the film sleeve halves lying on top of one another are glued to one another.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, prior to insertion of the membrane electrode assembly (1) into the film sleeve (3), two window-like openings (4) are created in the film sleeve (3), wherein the two window-like openings (4) are disposed opposite to one another.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, when the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into the film sleeve (3), active regions (5) configured on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly (1) are positioned within the at least one window-like opening (4).

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that one end of the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into a first film sleeve (3) and an other end of the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into a second film sleeve (3), the first and second film sleeves (3) are respectively pressed together and respective film sleeve halves of the first and second film sleeves lying on top of one another are glued to one another.

15. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one supply opening (6) is created in a punching process.

16. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, after the membrane electrode assembly (1) is inserted into the film sleeve (3), the film sleeve (3) is pressed together and halves of the film sleeve lying on top of one another are connected, and at least one supply opening (6) is created in the two film sleeve halves lying on top of one another.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one window-like opening (4) and the at least one supply opening (6) are created in a punching process.

18. The fuel cell according to claim 9, characterized in that the film sleeve (3) comprises two film sleeve halves, at least some regions of which lie on top of one another and which are glued to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures show:

[0026] FIG. 1 a simple perspective view of a membrane electrode assembly comprising a film sleeve for producing a fuel cell according to the invention,

[0027] FIG. 2 a simple perspective view of a membrane electrode assembly comprising two film sleeves for producing a fuel cell according to the invention,

[0028] FIG. 3 a simple perspective view of a membrane electrode assembly comprising a sub-gasket for producing a fuel cell according to the invention and

[0029] FIG. 4 a simple perspective view of a membrane electrode assembly comprising two individual foils for producing of a fuel cell known from the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The highly simplified illustration of FIG. 1 shows a membrane electrode assembly 1 and a film sleeve 3 for producing a fuel cell. The membrane electrode assembly 1 comprises a membrane which is coated on both sides with a catalytically active material, not shown in further detail in FIG. 1, to form electrodes. To form a sub-gasket 2 (see FIG. 3), the membrane electrode assembly 1 is inserted into the film sleeve 3, the film sleeve 3 is pressed together and the film sleeve halves lying on top of one another are connected, preferably glued, to one another. In the region of two window-like openings 4 of the film sleeve 3, active regions 5 of the membrane electrode assembly 1 remain uncovered (see FIG. 3). To form supply openings 6 (see FIG. 3), punched out sections are subsequently provided in the film sleeve halves which lie on top of one another and are connected, preferably glued, to one another. Thus, the membrane electrode assembly 1 of FIG. 3 enclosed by the sub-gasket 2 is obtained.

[0031] In contrast to the use of two individual foils 7 known in the prior art (see FIG. 4), no delicate lattice-like structures have to be positioned exactly and placed on top of one another. The use of one film sleeve 3 can therefore significantly simplify the production of a fuel cell. Unlike the use of two individual foils 7, a sub-gasket 2 made from one film sleeve 3 forms a fold 8 along each of two side edges (see FIG. 3).

[0032] It is also possible to use two film sleeves 3 instead of a single film sleeve 3. One respective end portion of the membrane electrode assembly 1 is then inserted into one film sleeve 3. This embodiment is shown as an example in FIG. 2. Here, too, the active regions 5 of the membrane electrode assembly 1 remain uncovered, because the two film sleeves 3 each enclose only one end portion of the membrane electrode assembly 1. This embodiment has the advantage that no window-like opening 4 has to be created in the film sleeve 3.