JP2015153653A - Electrolyte membrane modification device and electrolyte membrane modification method, and production system and production method of membrane/catalyst layer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolyte membrane modification technique capable of forming a catalyst layer of uniform thickness, and to provide a production technique of a membrane/catalyst layer assembly.SOLUTION: An electrolyte membrane 2 is transported continuously in roll-to-roll system by means of a first unwinding roller 71 and a first take-up roller 74. The electrolyte membrane 2 contains perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid and polytetrafluoroethylene as a reinforcement material. The front surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, transported while sticking the back surface to a back sheet, is irradiated with ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light irradiation unit 72. Thereafter, the electrolyte membrane 2 is hot-pressed by means of a pair of heated press rollers 73, 73. A membrane/catalyst layer assembly can be produced by coating the electrolyte membrane 2, modified by ultraviolet light irradiation and hot-press, with an electrode ink and then drying the ink, thereby forming a catalyst layer of uniform thickness.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reforming an electrolyte membrane used in a fuel cell, and a system and method for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly in which electrode catalyst layers are formed on both sides of the modified electrolyte membrane. About.

In recent years, fuel cells have attracted attention as drive power sources for automobiles, homes, mobile phones and the like. A fuel cell is a power generation system that generates electric power by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen (H ₂ ) contained in fuel and oxygen (O ₂ ) in the air, and has a feature of high power generation efficiency and light environmental load. .

  There are several types of fuel cells depending on the electrolyte used, one of which is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) using an ion exchange membrane (electrolyte membrane) as the electrolyte. ) Since the polymer electrolyte fuel cell can operate at room temperature and can be reduced in size and weight, it is expected to be applied to automobiles and portable devices.

  A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is generally configured by stacking a plurality of cells. One cell (single cell) is configured by sandwiching both sides of a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) with a pair of separators. A membrane / electrode assembly is a membrane-catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) with a catalyst layer formed on both sides of an electrolyte thin film (polymer electrolyte membrane) and gas diffusion layers on both sides. is there. A catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer disposed on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane constitute a pair of electrode layers, one of which is an anode electrode and the other is a cathode electrode. When the fuel gas containing hydrogen contacts the anode electrode and air contacts the cathode electrode, electric power is generated by an electrochemical reaction.

  As an electrolyte membrane for use in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, for example, stretched porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used as a reinforcing material, and perfluorosulfonic acid resin as an electrolyte resin is used as the reinforcing material. Are formed integrally. Then, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly is produced by applying electrode ink (electrode paste) in which a catalyst containing platinum (Pt) is dispersed in a solvent such as alcohol on the surface of such an electrolyte membrane. (See Patent Documents 2 and 3).

JP-A-8-162132 JP 2008-27738 A JP 2011-165460 A

  However, stretched porous PTFE as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is produced by stretching a PTFE sheet to make it porous. Therefore, in an electrolyte membrane using the stretched porous PTFE as a reinforcing material, the reinforcing material is locally used. In some cases, the islands have an agglomerated sea-island structure. When the electrode ink is applied to the surface of such an electrolyte membrane, the electrode ink is repelled and the layer becomes thin at the portion where the aggregated PTFE is exposed on the surface, and as a result, the thickness of the catalyst layer becomes non-uniform. There was a fear.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an object to provide an electrolyte membrane reforming technology and a membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing technology capable of forming a catalyst layer having a uniform film thickness. To do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is an electrolyte membrane reforming apparatus for reforming an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, and transports a belt-shaped electrolyte membrane whose one surface is bonded to a support member at a predetermined speed. means and the accumulated light quantity of ultraviolet light in the range of wavelength 100nm~400nm on the other surface at 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less of illuminance of the electrolyte membrane being transported by the transport means 1.8MJ / and irradiation means for irradiating so as to be not less than cm ^{2 and not} more than 15000 mJ / cm ² .

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the electrolyte membrane reforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is provided downstream of the irradiation unit along the transport path of the electrolyte membrane by the transport unit. A pair of press rollers for compressing the electrolyte membrane bonded to the substrate from one side and the other side, and a heating unit for heating the pair of press rollers to 50 ° C. or higher and 180 ° C. or lower. Features.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrolyte membrane reforming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, a compression ratio by the pair of press rollers is 20% or more and 60% or less.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electrolyte membrane reformer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the electrolyte membrane includes polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid. It is a film.

  The invention of claim 5 is a membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system in which a catalyst layer is formed on an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell. The electrolyte membrane reformer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 A coating means for coating a coating liquid on one side and / or the other side of the electrolyte membrane; a drying means for drying the coating liquid coated on the electrolyte membrane to form a catalyst layer; It is characterized by providing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrolyte membrane reforming method for reforming an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, wherein a belt-like electrolyte membrane having one surface bonded to a support member is conveyed at a predetermined speed while the electrolyte membrane irradiated to the integrated light quantity of ultraviolet light in the range of wavelength 100nm~400nm on the other surface at 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less of illuminance is 1.8mJ / cm ² or more 15,000 mJ / cm ² or less An irradiation step is provided.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the electrolyte membrane modification method according to claim 6, wherein after the irradiation step, the support member is bonded to the support member by a pair of press rollers heated to 50 ° C. or more and 180 ° C. or less. The method further comprises a hot pressing step of compressing the electrolyte membrane sandwiched from one side and the other side.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the electrolyte membrane modification method according to claim 7, wherein the compression rate by the pair of press rollers in the hot pressing step is 20% or more and 60% or less. To do.

  The invention of claim 9 is the electrolyte membrane modification method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the electrolyte membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid. It is a film.

  The invention of claim 10 is a method of manufacturing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly in which a catalyst layer is formed on an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell. The method of reforming an electrolyte membrane according to any of claims 6 to 9 A first coating step of applying a coating solution to the other surface of the electrolyte membrane whose surface has been modified, and a step of drying the coating solution applied to the other surface of the electrolyte membrane to form a catalyst layer. And 1 drying step.

  The invention of claim 11 is the method for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly according to claim 10, wherein the support member is peeled from one surface of the electrolyte membrane and the one surface is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. A second coating step of coating the coating liquid without any further, and a second drying step of drying the coating liquid coated on one surface of the electrolyte membrane to form a catalyst layer. And

According to claim 1, the invention of claim 5, integral light quantity of ultraviolet light in the range of wavelength 100nm~400nm on the other surface at 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less of illuminance of the electrolyte membrane 1. Irradiation is performed so as to be 8 mJ / cm ² or more and 15000 mJ / cm ² or less, so that the electrolyte membrane is modified and a catalyst layer having a uniform film thickness can be formed.

  In particular, according to the second and third aspects of the invention, the electrolyte membrane is compressed by the pair of heated press rollers, so that the electrolyte membrane can be more sufficiently modified.

According Claims 6 to the invention of claim 11, the integrated light quantity of ultraviolet light in the range of wavelength 100nm~400nm on the other surface at 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less of illuminance of the electrolyte membrane 1. Irradiation is performed so as to be 8 mJ / cm ² or more and 15000 mJ / cm ² or less, so that the electrolyte membrane is modified and a catalyst layer having a uniform film thickness can be formed.

  In particular, according to the inventions of claims 7 and 8, the electrolyte membrane is compressed by the pair of heated press rollers, so that the electrolyte membrane can be more sufficiently modified.

It is a figure which shows typically the whole schematic structure of the manufacturing system of the membrane-catalyst layer assembly based on this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a reforming unit. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a surface treatment unit. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a back surface processing unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of an adsorption | suction roller and a 2nd drying furnace. It is a front view of a suction roller and a 2nd drying furnace. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a membrane-catalyst layer assembly is manufactured. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a membrane-catalyst layer assembly is manufactured. It is sectional drawing of the electrolyte membrane in which the front sheet and the back sheet were bonded together. It is a figure which shows the ultraviolet irradiation with respect to an electrolyte membrane. It is a figure which shows the hot press process with respect to an electrolyte membrane. It is a top view which shows the state by which electrode ink was intermittently applied to the surface of the electrolyte membrane. It is sectional drawing of the electrolyte membrane in which the catalyst layer was formed on the surface. It is a figure which shows a mode that a back sheet is peeled with a 1st press roller, and an electrolyte membrane is made to adsorb | suck to an adsorption | suction roller. It is sectional drawing of the electrolyte membrane in which the catalyst layer was formed in both front and back. It is a figure which shows the application state of the electrode ink in case the reinforcing material of a fluororesin has aggregated in the electrolyte membrane. It is a figure which shows the film thickness profile of a catalyst layer in case the reinforcing material of a fluororesin has aggregated in the electrolyte membrane. It is a figure which shows the film thickness profile of the catalyst layer in the case of modifying the electrolyte membrane.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall schematic configuration of a membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system 1 according to the present invention. In this membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system 1, after the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane 2 is modified, electrode ink (electrode paste) is applied to the front and back surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2, and the electrode ink is applied. The catalyst layer (electrode layer) is formed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2 by drying, and the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is manufactured.

  The membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system 1 includes a reforming unit 70 that performs a reforming process on the electrolyte membrane 2, a surface treatment unit 10 that performs a catalyst layer forming process on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, and the electrolyte membrane 2. The back surface processing unit 20 which performs the film-forming process of a catalyst layer is provided in the back surface. Further, the manufacturing system 1 includes a control unit 90 that manages the entire reforming unit 70, the surface treatment unit 10, and the back surface treatment unit 20. Note that the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is one of the two surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2, and the catalyst layer of either the anode electrode or the cathode electrode is formed. The back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is the other surface opposite to the front surface, and a catalyst layer having a polarity different from that of the front surface is formed. That is, the front surface and the back surface are notations for simply identifying both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2, and any specific surface is not limited to the front surface or the back surface.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the reforming unit 70. The reforming unit 70 performs a reforming process on the electrolyte membrane 2 by at least ultraviolet irradiation. In FIG. 2 and the subsequent figures, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system in which the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction and the XY plane is the horizontal plane is appropriately attached to clarify the directional relationship. Further, in FIG. 2 and the subsequent drawings, the dimensions and the number of each part are exaggerated or simplified as necessary for easy understanding.

  The reforming unit 70 includes a first unwinding roller 71, an ultraviolet irradiation unit 72, a pair of press rollers 73 and 73, and a first winding roller 74 as main elements. The first unwinding roller 71 is wound with the electrolyte membrane 2 on which the protective front sheet 5 and back sheet 6 are bonded, and continuously feeds out the electrolyte membrane 2. The electrolyte membrane 2 is sent out from the first winding roller 71 and wound up by the first winding roller 74, so that the electrolyte film 2 is continuously fixed in a roll-to-roll manner in the order of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 to the press rollers 73 and 73. Transported at speed. In the reforming unit 70, the electrolyte membrane 2 is conveyed with its surface facing upward.

  As the electrolyte membrane 2, a polymer electrolyte membrane containing perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid (for example, Goreselect (registered trademark) manufactured by Gore) is used. The electrolyte membrane 2 contains expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a reinforcing material in addition to perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid. The electrolyte membrane 2 is very thin and weak in mechanical strength, and easily swells even with a small amount of moisture in the atmosphere, while shrinking when the humidity is low, and is very easily deformed. Therefore, the electrolyte film 2 with the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 is wound around the first unwinding roller 71 as an initial state in order to prevent deformation of the electrolyte film 2. As the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6, a resin material having a high mechanical strength and an excellent shape holding function, for example, a film of PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can be used. In the present embodiment, the front sheet 5 is bonded to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6 is bonded to the back surface.

  In the electrolyte membrane 2 in the initial state wound around the first unwinding roller 71, the thickness of the electrolyte membrane 2 itself is 5 μm to 30 μm, and the width is about 300 mm at the maximum. The film thickness of the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 is 25 μm to 100 μm, and the width is slightly larger than the width of the electrolyte membrane 2. Note that the width of the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 may be the same as the width of the electrolyte membrane 2.

  A pair of peeling rollers 76 and 76 and a front sheet take-up roller 75 are provided in the uppermost stream on the transport path of the electrolyte membrane 2 from the first take-up roller 71 to the first take-up roller 74. Since the electrolyte membrane 2 delivered from the first unwinding roller 71 is conveyed with its surface facing upward, the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 are adhered to the upper and lower sides of the electrolyte membrane 2, respectively. . In the pair of peeling rollers 76, 76, the upper front sheet 5 is peeled from the electrolyte membrane 2. The peeled front sheet 5 is taken up by a front sheet take-up roller 75.

  An ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is installed on the downstream side of the peeling rollers 76 along the transport path of the electrolyte membrane 2 from the first winding roller 71 to the first winding roller 74. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is provided above the transport path of the electrolyte membrane 2. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 has a built-in ultraviolet lamp 72a (see FIG. 10), and irradiates the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 conveyed at a constant speed along the conveyance path with ultraviolet rays within a wavelength range of 100 nm to 400 nm. For example, a low-pressure mercury lamp can be used as the ultraviolet lamp 72a. Moreover, the ultraviolet lamp 72a is not limited to a low pressure mercury lamp, For example, an excimer lamp and LED may be sufficient.

  The wavelength of the ultraviolet rays irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 depends on the type of the ultraviolet lamp 72a. For example, when a low-pressure mercury lamp is used, ultraviolet rays having wavelengths of 185 nm and 254 nm can be irradiated. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 can irradiate ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 172 nm when an excimer lamp is used as the ultraviolet lamp 72 a, and irradiates ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 365 nm, 385 nm, and 395 nm when an LED is used. Can do. The illuminance of ultraviolet rays and the integrated light amount irradiated onto the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 will be described later.

  A pair of press rollers 73 and 73 are provided on the further downstream side of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 along the conveying path of the electrolyte membrane 2 from the first unwinding roller 71 to the first winding roller 74. The pair of press rollers 73, 73 are arranged such that the distance between them (roll gap) is a predetermined value. The roll gap of the pair of press rollers 73 and 73 is adjusted to a value smaller than the total thickness of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6. Therefore, when the electrolyte membrane 2 to be conveyed passes between the pair of press rollers 73 and 73, the electrolyte membrane 2 bonded to the back sheet 6 is sandwiched between the pair of press rollers 73 and 73 from the front surface side and the back surface side. Compressed.

  Further, the pair of press rollers 73 and 73 are heated by the heating unit 77. The heating unit 77 may be, for example, a mechanism that supplies power to the heaters built in the press rollers 73 and 73, or a mechanism that supplies hot water to the piping provided in the press rollers 73 and 73. good. The heating unit 77 heats the pair of press rollers 73 and 73 to a predetermined temperature of 50 ° C. or higher and 180 ° C. or lower. Accordingly, the electrolyte membrane 2 is compressed while being heated by the pair of press rollers 73 and 73 (hot pressing).

  The electrolyte membrane 2 that has passed through the pair of press rollers 73, 73 is taken up by the first take-up roller 74. The first winding roller 74 winds the electrolyte membrane 2 having the back sheet 6 bonded to the back surface. The first winding roller 74 gives a certain tension to the electrolyte membrane 2 fed from the first winding roller 71.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the surface treatment unit 10. The surface treatment unit 10 includes a second unwinding roller 11, a surface coating nozzle 12, a first drying furnace 13, and a second winding roller 14. The surface treatment unit 10 applies electrode ink on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 to form a catalyst layer. Form. The roll of the electrolyte membrane 2 wound by the first winding roller 74 of the reforming unit 70 is attached to the second winding roller 11. That is, the second unwinding roller 11 is wound with the electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6 and continuously sends out the electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6. The electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6 is fed from the second unwinding roller 11 and wound up by the second winding roller 14, so that the surface coating nozzle 12 and the first drying furnace 13 are sequentially rolled to roll. Are continuously conveyed.

  A surface coating nozzle 12 is provided in the middle of the transport path of the electrolyte membrane 2 from the second unwinding roller 11 to the first winding roller 14. The surface coating nozzle 12 is a slit nozzle provided with a slit-like discharge port along the width direction of the electrolyte membrane 2. The longitudinal direction of the slit-like discharge port is the Y-axis direction. The surface coating nozzle 12 is installed so that the discharge direction from the discharge port is substantially along the horizontal direction (X-axis direction). Further, the surface coating nozzle 12 is provided with a mechanism for adjusting the interval between the backup roller 15 and the discharge port and a mechanism for defining the posture (both not shown).

  The backup roller 15 is provided facing the surface coating nozzle 12 and the electrolyte membrane 2. The backup roller 15 is rotatably provided so that its rotation axis is along a horizontal direction parallel to the discharge port of the surface coating nozzle 12. The backup roller 15 supports the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that is fed from the second unwinding roller 11 and conveyed. More precisely, the backup roller 15 directly contacts the back sheet 6 bonded to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 to support the electrolyte membrane 2. Therefore, the surface coating nozzle 12 is provided so that its discharge port faces the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 supported by the backup roller 15.

  Since the backup roller 15 is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, the distance between the discharge port of the surface coating nozzle 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the backup roller 15 is always constant. For this reason, the distance between the electrolyte membrane 2 supported by the backup roller 15 and the discharge port of the surface coating nozzle 12 is stable and always constant.

  Electrode ink is supplied to the surface coating nozzle 12 as a coating liquid from a coating liquid supply mechanism (not shown). The electrode ink used in this embodiment contains, for example, catalyst particles, an ion conductive electrolyte, and a dispersion medium. As the catalyst particles, known or commercially available particles can be used, and are not particularly limited as long as they cause a fuel cell reaction at the anode or cathode of the polymer fuel cell. For example, platinum (Pt), platinum alloy Platinum compounds can be used. Among these, as the platinum alloy, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of ruthenium (Ru), palladium (Pd), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), iridium (Ir), iron (Fe), and the like. An alloy of metal and platinum can be mentioned. Generally, platinum is used for the catalyst particles of the electrode ink for the cathode, and the above-described platinum alloy is used for the catalyst particles of the electrode ink for the anode.

  The catalyst particles may be so-called catalyst-supported carbon powder in which catalyst fine particles are supported on carbon powder. The average particle size of the catalyst-supporting carbon is usually about 10 nm to 100 nm, preferably about 20 nm to 80 nm, and most preferably about 40 nm to 50 nm. The carbon powder supporting the catalyst fine particles is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include carbon black such as channel black, furnace black, ketjen black, acetylene black, and lamp black, graphite, activated carbon, carbon fiber, and carbon nanotube. It is done. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  A solvent is added to the catalyst particles as described above to obtain a paste that can be applied from a slit nozzle. As the solvent, water, ethanol, alcohols such as n-propanol and n-butanol, and organic solvents such as ethers, esters and fluorines can be used.

  Further, a polymer electrolyte solution having an ion exchange group is added to a solution in which catalyst particles are dispersed in a solvent. As an example, carbon black supporting 50 wt% platinum (TEC10E50E manufactured by Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd.) is dispersed in water, ethanol, and a polymer electrolyte solution (Nafion liquid “D2020” manufactured by DuPont, USA). Ink can be obtained. The paste thus mixed is supplied to the surface coating nozzle 12 as electrode ink.

  The surface coating nozzle 12 discharges the supplied electrode ink as described above from the discharge port, and coats the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that travels while being supported by the backup roller 15. The surface coating nozzle 12 can perform continuous coating when discharging electrode ink continuously, and can perform intermittent coating when discharging electrode ink intermittently.

  The first drying furnace 13 is installed on the downstream side of the surface coating nozzle 12 in the middle of the conveying path of the electrolyte membrane 2. The 1st drying furnace 13 performs the drying process of the electrode ink coated on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 by blowing and heating a hot air to the electrolyte membrane 2 which passes through the inside. By this drying treatment, the solvent is evaporated from the electrode ink to form the catalyst layer 9 (see FIG. 13). As the first drying furnace 13, a known hot air drying furnace can be used.

  The electrolyte membrane 2 that has passed through the first drying furnace 13 is wound up by the second winding roller 14. The 2nd winding roller 14 winds up the electrolyte membrane 2 in which the catalyst layer 9 is formed only on the surface while the back sheet 6 is bonded to the back surface. The second winding roller 14 gives a certain tension to the electrolyte membrane 2 fed from the second winding roller 11.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the back surface processing unit 20. The back surface processing unit 20 is a main part for performing the film forming process on the back surface side of the electrolyte membrane 2, and a peeling portion 30 that peels the back sheet 6 from the electrolyte membrane 2, and an adsorption that supports and conveys the electrolyte membrane 2. A roller 21, a back coating nozzle 40 that applies electrode ink to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, and a second drying furnace 50 that heats and dries the applied electrode ink. The back surface processing unit 20 applies electrode ink to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 to form a catalyst layer.

  The peeling unit 30 includes a first press roller 31. The back surface processing unit 20 includes a third unwinding roller 32, an auxiliary roller 33, and a back sheet winding roller 34. On the third unwinding roller 32, a roll of the electrolyte membrane 2 wound by the second winding roller 14 of the surface treatment unit 10 is mounted. That is, the back sheet 6 is bonded to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 wound around the third unwinding roller 32, and the catalyst layer 9 is formed on the surface. The third unwinding roller 32 continuously sends out such an electrolyte membrane 2.

  The electrolyte membrane 2 sent out from the third unwinding roller 32 is suspended by the auxiliary roller 33 and pressed against the suction roller 21 by the first press roller 31. The first press roller 31 is closely supported at a position spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 by a cylinder (not shown). The distance between the first press roller 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 is smaller than the thickness of the electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6. Therefore, when the electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6 passes between the first press roller 31 and the adsorption roller 21, the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 including the catalyst layer 9 is pressed against the adsorption roller 21. The force with which the first press roller 31 presses the electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6 against the suction roller 21 is controlled by adjusting the distance between the first press roller 31 and the suction roller 21 by the cylinder.

  When the first press roller 31 presses the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 against the adsorption roller 21, the electrolyte membrane 2 is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 21. At this time, the back sheet 6 is peeled off from the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 and wound around the back sheet winding roller 34. That is, the first press roller 31 of the peeling unit 30 plays a role of peeling the back sheet 6 from the electrolyte film 2 with the back sheet 6 and pressing the electrolyte film 2 against the adsorption roller 21 for adsorption. The back sheet take-up roller 34 is continuously rotated by a motor (not shown) to continuously take up the back sheet 6 and from the third unwind roller 32 through the auxiliary roller 33 to the first press roller 31. A constant tension is applied to the electrolyte membrane 2 with the backsheet 6 that reaches the point.

  The suction roller 21 is a cylindrical member that is installed so that the central axis is along the Y-axis direction. The size of the suction roller 21 is, for example, a height (length in the Y-axis direction) of 400 mm and a diameter of 400 mm to 1600 mm. The suction roller 21 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow AR1 in FIG. 1 about a central axis along the Y-axis direction as a rotation center by a motor (not shown).

The suction roller 21 is a porous roller made of porous carbon or porous ceramics. As the porous ceramic, for example, a sintered body of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) or silicon carbide (SiC) can be used. The pore diameter of the porous adsorption roller 21 is 5 μm or less, and the porosity is in the range of 15% to 50%. Further, the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface (circumferential surface of the cylinder) of the suction roller 21 has an Rz (maximum height) of 5 μm or less, and it is preferable that this value is smaller. Furthermore, the total runout of the suction roller 21 during rotation (variation in the distance from the rotation shaft to the outer peripheral surface) is set to 10 μm or less.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating configurations of the suction roller 21 and the second drying furnace 50. A suction port 23 is provided on the upper surface and / or the bottom surface of the suction roller 21. The suction port 23 is sucked by a suction mechanism (for example, an exhaust pump) (not shown) and given a negative pressure. Since the suction roller 21 is porous with a porosity of 15% to 50%, when a negative pressure is applied to the suction port 23, a negative value of a predetermined value is also applied to the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 through the internal pores. The pressure (pressure sucked from the surrounding atmosphere to the outer peripheral surface) acts uniformly. For example, in the present embodiment, by applying a negative pressure of 90 kPa or more to the suction port 23, a negative pressure of 10 kPa or more acts uniformly on the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21. Thereby, the adsorption roller 21 can uniformly adsorb the electrolyte membrane 2 over the entire region in the width direction (Y-axis direction).

  The suction roller 21 is provided with a plurality of water-cooled tubes 22. The water cooling tubes 22 are provided with a uniform arrangement density so as to go around the inside of the suction roller 21. The water cooling pipe 22 is supplied with constant temperature water whose temperature is adjusted to a predetermined temperature from a water supply mechanism (not shown). The constant temperature water that has flowed through the water cooling pipe 22 is discharged to a drainage mechanism (not shown). By flowing constant temperature water through the water cooling tube 22, the suction roller 21 is cooled.

  Returning to FIG. 4, a back surface coating nozzle 40 is provided to face the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21. The back coating nozzle 40 is provided on the downstream side of the first press roller 31 in the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the adsorption roller 21. The back surface coating nozzle 40 is a slit nozzle having a slit-like discharge port at the tip (end on the (+ X) side). The longitudinal direction of the slit-like discharge port is the Y-axis direction. The back surface coating nozzle 40 is provided at a position where a slit-like discharge port is spaced a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21. Further, the back surface coating nozzle 40 is provided such that its position and posture with respect to the suction roller 21 can be adjusted by a driving mechanism (not shown).

  Electrode ink is supplied to the back surface coating nozzle 40 as a coating liquid from a coating liquid supply mechanism (not shown). The electrode ink supplied to the back surface coating nozzle 40 is the same as described above, but has the opposite polarity to the electrode ink supplied to the front surface coating nozzle 12. For example, when anode electrode ink is supplied to the front surface coating nozzle 12, cathode electrode ink is supplied to the back surface coating nozzle 40.

  The back surface coating nozzle 40 discharges the supplied electrode ink from the discharge port and coats the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that is sucked and conveyed by the suction roller 21. Similar to the front surface coating nozzle 12, the back surface coating nozzle 40 can perform continuous coating when discharging electrode ink continuously, and can perform intermittent coating when discharging electrode ink intermittently. it can. However, when the surface coating nozzle 12 performs continuous coating in the surface treatment unit 10, the back surface coating nozzle 40 also performs continuous coating, and when the surface coating nozzle 12 performs intermittent coating, the back surface coating nozzle 40 40 also performs intermittent coating.

  The second drying furnace 50 is provided so as to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the second drying furnace 50 is divided into a total of five zones including three drying zones 51, 52, 53 and two heat blocking zones 54, 55. Each of the three drying zones 51, 52, 53 blows hot air toward the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 by hot air blowing from a hot air blowing unit (not shown). By blowing hot air from the second drying furnace 50, the electrode ink applied to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is dried.

  The three drying zones 51, 52, and 53 have different temperatures of hot air to be blown. The temperature of the hot air blown by the three drying zones 51, 52, and 53 increases sequentially from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the adsorption roller 21 (clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 5). . For example, the hot air temperature of the most upstream drying zone 51 is room temperature to 40 ° C., the hot air temperature of the intermediate drying zone 52 is 40 ° C. to 80 ° C., and the hot air temperature of the most downstream drying zone 53 is 50 ° C. ~ 100 ° C.

  The two heat shielding zones 54 and 55 are provided at both ends of the drying zones 51, 52 and 53 along the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane 2. The heat insulation zone 54 is provided on the upstream side of the drying zone 51, and the heat insulation zone 55 is provided on the downstream side of the drying zone 53. The two heat shut-off zones 54 and 55 suck the atmosphere in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 by exhaust from an exhaust unit (not shown). This prevents hot air blown from the drying zones 51, 52, and 53 from flowing beyond the second drying furnace 50 to the upstream side and downstream side of the adsorption roller 21, and the solvent vapor generated from the electrode ink during drying. And the like can be prevented from leaking out of the second drying furnace 50. If at least the upstream heat blocking zone 54 is provided, the coating is caused by the hot air blown from the drying zones 51, 52, 53 flowing into the back surface coating nozzle 40 and drying the vicinity of the discharge port. The occurrence of defects can be prevented.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the suction roller 21 and the second drying furnace 50. The second drying furnace 50 is provided with suction portions 56 and 57 at both ends along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the suction roller 21. The suction units 56 and 57 suck the surrounding atmosphere as in the heat blocking zones 54 and 55. As a result, hot air, solvent vapor, and the like that are about to leak from both ends in the width direction of the drying furnace 40 can also be sucked and collected.

  Returning to FIG. 4, a second press roller 39 is provided on the downstream side of the second drying furnace 50 along the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the adsorption roller 21. The second press roller 39 is closely supported at a position spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 by a cylinder (not shown). The distance between the second press roller 39 and the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 21 is smaller than the thickness of the electrolyte membrane 2 after the drying process (the total thickness of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the catalyst layers 9 on both the front and back surfaces). Therefore, when the electrolyte membrane 2 after the drying process passes between the second press roller 39 and the adsorption roller 21, the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 including the catalyst layer 9 is pressed against the second press roller 39.

  When the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is pressed against the second press roller 39, the electrolyte membrane 2 is peeled off from the adsorption roller 21, wound around the second press roller 39, and sent further downstream. In addition, the 1st press roller 31 and the 2nd press roller 39 may be a metal roller which has a width | variety comparable as the adsorption | suction roller 21, and may be a resin-made roller. The diameters of the first press roller 31 and the second press roller 39 can be set appropriately.

  The back surface processing unit 20 further includes an additional drying furnace 59 and a third winding roller 38. The electrolyte membrane 2 fed from the second press roller 39 is taken up by the third take-up roller 38, so that the electrolyte membrane 2 passes from the second press roller 39 to the third take-up roller 38 through the additional drying furnace 59. Conveyed sequentially.

  The additional drying furnace 59 is disposed between the second press roller 39 and the third winding roller 38. As the additional drying furnace 59, a known hot air drying furnace can be used. The electrolyte membrane 2 sent out by the second press roller 39 passes through the additional drying furnace 59, whereby the finishing drying of the catalyst layer 9 is performed. The catalyst layer 9 on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2 is completely dried to complete the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3.

  The membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 that has passed through the additional drying furnace 59 is wound up by the third winding roller 38. The third winding roller 38 winds up the electrolyte membrane 2 (that is, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3) having the catalyst layers 9 formed on both the front and back surfaces. At this time, in order to prevent contact between the catalyst layer 9 of the anode electrode and the catalyst layer 9 of the cathode electrode, a film such as PEN or PET is sandwiched between the layers of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 as a slip sheet. Also good.

  Further, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system 1 includes a control unit 90 that controls each mechanism provided in the reforming unit 70, the surface treatment unit 10, and the back surface treatment unit 20 (FIG. 1). The configuration of the control unit 90 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. That is, the control unit 90 stores a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM that is a read-only memory that stores basic programs, a RAM that is a readable and writable memory that stores various information, control software, data, and the like. It is configured with a magnetic disk. When the CPU of the control unit 90 executes a predetermined processing program, each operation mechanism provided in the manufacturing system 1 is controlled, and the manufacturing process of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 proceeds.

  Next, a processing procedure in the production system 1 of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly having the above-described configuration will be described. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing a procedure for manufacturing the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 in the manufacturing system 1. FIG. 7 mainly shows the processing in the reforming unit 70 and the surface treatment unit 10, and FIG. 8 shows the processing in the back surface treatment unit 20. The manufacturing procedure of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 described below proceeds by the control unit 90 controlling each operation mechanism of the manufacturing system 1.

  First, the first unwinding roller 71 of the reforming unit 70 unwinds the electrolyte membrane 2 (step S1). When the electrolyte membrane 2 unwound from the first unwinding roller 71 is wound up by the first winding roller 74, the electrolyte membrane 2 is continuously conveyed at a constant speed by a roll-to-roll method. A front sheet 5 and a back sheet 6 are bonded to the front and back surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2 unwound from the first unwinding roller 71, respectively.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the electrolyte membrane 2 to which the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 are bonded. As described above, the electrolyte membrane 2 for use in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is very easily deformed by a small amount of moisture contained in the atmosphere. The front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6, which are band-shaped resin films, are in a state of being attached to the front and back surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2. The electrolyte membrane 2 is wound around the first unwinding roller 71 of the reforming unit 70 and unwound as the untreated electrolyte membrane 2. The electrolyte membrane 2 delivered from the first unwinding roller 71 is conveyed with its surface facing upward (that is, the front sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 are on the upper side and the lower side, respectively).

  The front sheet 5 is peeled off from the electrolyte membrane 2 as shown in FIG. 9 fed from the first unwinding roller 71 by the pair of peeling rollers 76, 76 (step S2). The front sheet 5 peeled off by the peeling rollers 76 and 76 is taken up by the front sheet take-up roller 75. On the downstream side of the pair of peeling rollers 76, 76 along the transport path of the electrolyte membrane 2 from the first winding roller 71 to the first winding roller 74, the back surface is bonded to the back sheet 6. The electrolyte membrane 2 is transported at a constant speed.

  Ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 onto the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 conveyed at a constant speed by the first winding roller 71 and the first winding roller 74 (step S3). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing ultraviolet irradiation on the electrolyte membrane 2. The ultraviolet lamp 72 a built in the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 irradiates the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 with ultraviolet rays within a wavelength range of 100 nm to 400 nm. Since the electrolyte membrane 2 containing perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid and polytetrafluoroethylene as a reinforcing material is transparent to light within a wavelength range of 100 nm to 400 nm, the electrolyte membrane 2 transmits ultraviolet rays irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 reach the back surface bonded to the back sheet 6 from the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2.

Illuminance in the electrolyte membrane second surface of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less. The illuminance of ultraviolet light on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 can be defined by adjusting the height position where the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is installed, that is, the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 and the electrolyte membrane 2. As the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 and the electrolyte membrane 2 increases, the illuminance of ultraviolet rays on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 decreases.

  In addition, the electrolyte membrane 2 that is irradiated with ultraviolet rays is conveyed at a constant speed by a first unwinding roller 71 and a first winding roller 74, as indicated by an arrow AR10 in FIG. Accordingly, the irradiation time by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is defined by the ultraviolet irradiation width (the length along the X-axis direction of the ultraviolet irradiation region) on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the transport speed of the electrolyte membrane 2. Specifically, the irradiation time is a value obtained by dividing the irradiation width of the ultraviolet rays by the conveying speed of the electrolyte membrane 2. For example, if the irradiation width of the ultraviolet rays is 9 mm and the conveying speed of the electrolyte membrane 2 is 10 mm / second, the ultraviolet irradiation time Becomes 0.9 seconds.

A value obtained by multiplying the illuminance of ultraviolet rays on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the irradiation time is the “integrated light amount”. The integrated light quantity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 to the electrolyte membrane 2 is adjusted to be 1.8 mJ / cm ² or more and 15000 mJ / cm ² or less. More specifically, the illuminance and irradiation width by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 and the conveyance speed of the electrolyte membrane 2 are adjusted so that the integrated light quantity is in the range of 1.8 mJ / cm ^{2 to} 15000 mJ / cm ² .

UV irradiation section 72 in this way, the integrated light quantity of ultraviolet light in the range of wavelength 100nm~400nm the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 at 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less of illuminance is 1.8mJ / cm irradiated at ² or more 15,000 mJ / cm ² or less. Modification is promoted in the electrolyte membrane 2 that has been irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72. Since the electrolyte membrane 2 transmits ultraviolet rays, the reforming proceeds over the entire thickness of the electrolyte membrane 2. Moreover, the ultraviolet-ray irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation part 72 reaches | attains even to the bonding surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6, and improves the adhesiveness between them.

  Next, the electrolyte membrane 2 that has passed under the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 reaches the pair of press rollers 73 and 73, and a hot press process is executed (step S4). FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a hot press process for the electrolyte membrane 2. The electrolyte membrane 2 is conveyed by the first unwinding roller 71 and the first winding roller 74 in the direction indicated by the arrow AR11 in the figure. The electrolyte membrane 2 passes between the pair of press rollers 73 and 73. Note that the pair of press rollers 73 and 73 may be rotated by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown) so as to match the conveying speed of the electrolyte membrane 2.

  The distance between the pair of press rollers 73, 73 is set to a value smaller than the total thickness d1 of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6 before pressing. Therefore, when the electrolyte membrane 2 conveyed in the direction of the arrow AR11 passes between the pair of press rollers 73, 73, the electrolyte membrane 2 bonded to the back sheet 6 is paired with the pair of press rollers from the front surface side and the back surface side. It is compressed between 73 and 73. Here, the compression ratio by the pair of press rollers 73, 73 = ((total thickness d2 of electrolyte membrane 2 and backsheet 6 before pressing d1-total thickness d2 of electrolyte membrane 2 and backsheet 6 after pressing) / thickness The roll gap is adjusted so that the length d1) is 20% or more and 60% or less.

  The pair of press rollers 73 and 73 are heated to a predetermined temperature of 50 ° C. or higher and 180 ° C. or lower by a heating unit 77 (see FIG. 2). By passing the electrolyte membrane 2 between the heated press rollers 73, 73, the electrolyte membrane 2 is subjected to a hot press process in which it is compressed while being heated. The hot press treatment further promotes the modification of the electrolyte membrane 2.

  The electrolyte membrane 2 that has passed through the press rollers 73, 73 is taken up by the first take-up roller 74. As described above, the reforming process of the electrolyte membrane 2 in the reforming unit 70 is completed. In the reforming unit 70, reforming of the electrolyte membrane 2 containing perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid and polytetrafluoroethylene as a reinforcing material is promoted by ultraviolet irradiation and hot press treatment.

  Next, the roll of the electrolyte membrane 2 wound up by the first winding roller 74 of the reforming unit 70 is reattached to the second winding roller 11 of the surface treatment unit 20 (step S5). This operation may be performed automatically by a lifter or the like, or may be performed manually by an operator.

  After the modified electrolyte membrane 2 is mounted on the second unwinding roller 11 of the surface treatment unit 10, the second unwinding roller 11 unwinds the electrolyte membrane 2 (step S6). A back sheet 6 is bonded to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 fed from the second unwinding roller 11. The electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6 continuously drawn out from the second unwinding roller 11 is conveyed from the surface coating nozzle 12 in the order of the first drying furnace 13 and is wound up by the second winding roller 14. The second unwinding roller 11 sends out the electrolyte membrane 2 so that the surface faces upward (that is, the back sheet 6 is on the lower side).

  Electrode ink is applied from the surface coating nozzle 12 onto the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that is fed from the second winding roller 11 and wound up by the second winding roller 14 and continuously conveyed in a roll-to-roll manner. (Step S7). The electrode ink applied to the electrolyte membrane 2 of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is as described above, and contains, for example, catalyst particles such as platinum or platinum alloy, an ion conductive electrolyte, and a dispersion medium. The electrode ink applied by the surface coating nozzle 12 may be for the cathode or for the anode.

  The surface coating nozzle 12 applies electrode ink to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that is continuously conveyed while being supported by the backup roller 15. The distance between the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that is stably supported by the backup roller 15 (strictly supported from the back surface of the back sheet 6) and the discharge port of the surface coating nozzle 12 is always constant. Therefore, the surface coating nozzle 12 can uniformly apply the electrode ink to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, and the width and thickness of the coating film formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 are uniform.

  In the present embodiment, the surface coating nozzle 12 intermittently discharges electrode ink, thereby intermittently coating the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that is continuously conveyed. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which electrode ink is intermittently applied to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2. By intermittently discharging electrode ink from the surface coating nozzle 12 onto the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 with the back sheet 6 conveyed at a constant speed from the second unwinding roller 11 toward the second winding roller 14, FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, rectangular electrode ink layers 8 having a predetermined size are formed discontinuously on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 at regular intervals.

  The width of each electrode ink layer 8 formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is defined by the width of the slit-like discharge port of the surface coating nozzle 12. The length of each electrode ink layer 8 is defined by the electrode ink discharge time of the surface coating nozzle 12 and the transport speed of the electrolyte membrane 2. Further, the thickness (height) of the electrode ink layer 8 is defined by the distance between the slit-like discharge port of the surface coating nozzle 12 and the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, the discharge flow rate of the electrode ink, and the transport speed of the electrolyte membrane 2. For example, it is 10 micrometers-300 micrometers. The electrode ink is a paste that can be applied from the surface coating nozzle 12, and has a viscosity that can maintain the shape of the electrode ink layer 8 on the electrolyte membrane 2.

  Next, when the electrolyte membrane 2 having the electrode ink layer 8 formed on the surface thereof is transported to and passed through the first drying furnace 13, the electrode ink layer 8 is dried (step S8). The drying process of the surface-side electrode ink layer 8 is performed by blowing hot air from the first drying furnace 13 to the electrode ink layer 8. By blowing hot air, the electrode ink layer 8 is heated to evaporate the solvent component, and the electrode ink layer 8 is dried. As the solvent component volatilizes, the electrode ink layer 8 formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is dried to form the catalyst layer 9. In the present embodiment, since the additional drying furnace 59 is provided in the back surface processing unit 20 for final finishing drying, the first drying furnace 13 is dried to such an extent that ink does not adhere to the object that contacts the catalyst layer 9. Let me just let you.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the electrolyte membrane 2 having the catalyst layer 9 formed on the surface thereof. A back sheet 6 is bonded to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, and a catalyst layer 9 is intermittently formed on the surface. The catalyst layer 9 is an electrode layer on which catalyst particles such as platinum are supported. Since the catalyst layer 9 is formed by volatilization and solidification of the solvent component from the electrode ink layer 8, the thickness of the catalyst layer 9 is thinner than that of the electrode ink layer 8. The thickness of the catalyst layer 9 after drying is, for example, 3 μm to 50 μm.

  The electrolyte membrane 2 as shown in FIG. 13 that has passed through the first drying furnace 13 is wound up by the second winding roller 14. At this time, the catalyst layer 9 formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6 attached to the back surface come into contact with each other, but the catalyst layer 9 is not adhered to the ink by the first drying furnace 13. Since it is dry, no problem occurs. As described above, the film formation process for forming the catalyst layer 9 by applying the electrode ink to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 in the surface treatment unit 10 is completed.

  Next, the roll of the electrolyte membrane 2 wound up by the second winding roller 14 of the surface treatment unit 10 is reattached to the third unwinding roller 32 of the back surface processing unit 20 (step S9). As described above, this operation may be performed automatically by a lifter or the like, or may be performed manually by an operator.

  After the electrolyte membrane 2 having the catalyst layer 9 formed on the surface is attached to the third unwinding roller 32 of the back surface processing unit 20, the third unwinding roller 32 unwinds the electrolyte membrane 2 (step S10). At this time, the electrolyte membrane 2 fed from the third unwinding roller 32 has the back sheet 6 bonded to the back surface and the catalyst layer 9 formed on the surface (FIG. 13). The third unwinding roller 32 rotates in the direction opposite to the winding direction of the second winding roller 14 of the surface treatment unit 10 to unwind the electrolyte membrane 2, thereby lowering the surface on which the catalyst layer 9 is formed. The electrolyte membrane 2 is sent out so as to face the side (that is, so that the back sheet 6 is on the upper side). The electrolyte membrane 2 continuously drawn out from the third unwinding roller 32 is suspended by the auxiliary roller 33 and sent out to the first press roller 31 of the peeling unit 30.

  In the peeling unit 30, the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is pressed against the adsorption roller 21 by the first press roller 31, whereby the back sheet 6 is peeled off and the electrolyte membrane 2 is adsorbed and supported on the adsorption roller 21 (step S <b> 11). In other words, the first press roller 31 peels the back sheet 6 in a state where the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is adsorbed to the adsorption roller 21. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the back sheet 6 is peeled off by the first press roller 31 and the electrolyte membrane 2 is adsorbed to the adsorption roller 21. The back sheet 6 is peeled from the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 between the first press roller 31 and the adsorption roller 21, and the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is adsorbed by the adsorption roller 21.

  Since the catalyst layer 9 has already been formed in the surface treatment unit 10 on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, the first press roller 31 presses the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 including the catalyst layer 9 against the adsorption roller 21. The first press roller 31 adsorbs the electrolyte membrane 2 with a force within a range in which the electrolyte membrane 2 can be reliably adsorbed to the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 21 without deforming the weak electrolyte membrane 2 and the catalyst layer 9. It is pressed against the roller 21. However, the 1st press roller 31 is installed so that it may adjoin from the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption | suction roller 21 at predetermined intervals. The force with which the first press roller 31 presses the electrolyte membrane 2 against the adsorption roller 21 is adjusted by the interval.

  The adsorption roller 21 adsorbs the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2. Regardless of whether or not the electrolyte membrane 2 is adsorbed by applying a negative pressure of 90 kPa or more to the suction port 23 of the adsorption roller 21 formed of porous ceramics having a porosity of 15% to 50%, A negative pressure of 10 kPa or more acts uniformly on the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21. Therefore, regardless of the width of the electrolyte membrane 2 and whether or not the catalyst layer 9 is formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, the adsorption roller 21 stabilizes the electrolyte membrane 2 at a constant suction pressure. Can be supported by adsorption. Further, deformation of the electrolyte membrane 2 due to the adsorption of the adsorption roller 21 can be suppressed.

  Further, the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 21 is Rz of 5 μm or less, and the pore diameter of the adsorption roller 21 is 5 μm or less. That is, the adsorption roller 21 of the present embodiment can stably adsorb and support the catalyst layer 9 and the electrolyte membrane 2 having fragile mechanical properties without deforming or generating adsorption marks.

  The back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is exposed by peeling the back sheet 6. Here, since the electrolyte membrane 2 transmits ultraviolet rays, in step S3, the modification is progressing over the entire thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane 2. Therefore, after the backsheet 6 is peeled off, the electrode layer is applied to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 without performing ultraviolet irradiation again as described later, and the electrode ink is dried to form the catalyst layer 9. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the adsorption roller 21 that adsorbs and supports the electrolyte membrane 2 rotates about the central axis along the Y-axis direction, the electrolyte membrane 2 from which the back sheet 6 has been peeled is attached to the adsorption roller 21. It is supported by the outer peripheral surface and conveyed. On the other hand, the back sheet 6 peeled off from the electrolyte membrane 2 is taken up by the back sheet take-up roller 34.

  Next, electrode ink is applied from the back surface coating nozzle 40 to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 transported while being supported by the suction roller 21 (step S12). The electrode ink applied by the back surface coating nozzle 40 has a polarity opposite to that of the electrode ink applied by the front surface coating nozzle 12. For example, when the surface coating nozzle 12 coats the electrode ink for anode on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, the back surface coating nozzle 40 coats the electrode ink for cathode on the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2. Conversely, when the surface coating nozzle 12 has applied the cathode electrode ink, the back surface coating nozzle 40 applies the anode electrode ink to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2.

  Further, the back surface coating nozzle 40 applies electrode ink to the back surface corresponding to the formation position of the catalyst layer 9 on the front surface side of the electrolyte membrane 2 (that is, the side surface opposite to the catalyst layer 9 on the front surface side of the electrolyte membrane 2). Apply intermittently. Specifically, the control unit 90 controls the discharge timing of the electrode ink from the back surface coating nozzle 40 and the rotation speed of the suction roller 21. As a result, on the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, electrode ink layers 8 having the same size as the catalyst layer 9 are discontinuously formed at regular intervals at positions corresponding to the catalyst layer 9 on the front surface side (see FIG. 12). In order to accurately specify the formation position of the catalyst layer 9 on the surface side of the electrolyte membrane 2, for example, the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is placed on one of the conveyance paths from the third unwinding roller 32 to the first press roller 31. It is preferable to provide an imaging camera that captures an image and an image analysis unit that analyzes data of an image captured by the imaging camera.

  The total runout of the suction roller 21 during rotation is 10 μm or less, and the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21 is 5 μm or less. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating suction roller 21 and the back surface coating nozzle 40 The interval with the slit-shaped discharge port is stable at a substantially constant value. For this reason, the uniform electrode ink layer 8 can be formed with high accuracy by intermittent coating from the back surface coating nozzle 40.

  The width and length of each electrode ink layer 8 formed on the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 are the same as the width and length of the catalyst layer 9 formed on the surface. The thickness of the electrode ink layer 8 is also the same as the thickness of the electrode ink layer 8 formed by coating from the surface coating nozzle 12 (for example, 10 μm to 300 μm).

  Next, the rotation of the suction roller 21 causes the electrode ink layer 8 to be conveyed to a position facing the second drying furnace 50, and the electrode ink layer 8 is dried (step S13). The drying process of the electrode ink layer 8 on the back side is performed by blowing hot air from the second drying furnace 50 onto the electrode ink layer 8. When the hot air is blown, the electrode ink layer 8 is heated and the solvent component is volatilized, and the electrode ink layer 8 on the back side is dried. As the solvent component volatilizes, the electrode ink layer 8 formed on the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 is dried to form the catalyst layer 9. In the present embodiment, since the final drying is performed by providing the additional drying furnace 59, the second drying furnace 50 can be dried to such an extent that ink does not adhere to the second press roller 39 from the catalyst layer 9. It ’s fine.

  FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the electrolyte membrane 2 in which the catalyst layers 9 are formed on both the front and back surfaces. A catalyst layer 9 is formed at the same position on both the front and back surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 2. In other words, the catalyst layer 9 is formed at a position facing each other across the electrolyte membrane 2. The thickness of the catalyst layer 9 after drying is, for example, 3 μm to 50 μm on both sides.

  Moreover, the 2nd drying furnace 50 is provided with the three drying zones 51, 52, and 53, and hot air of a different temperature is sprayed from them. Specifically, the hot air temperature increases in the order of the drying zone 51 located on the most upstream side in the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the adsorption roller 21, the intermediate drying zone 52, and the most downstream drying zone 53. If high-temperature hot air is blown immediately on the electrode ink layer 8 immediately after coating without dividing the drying zone, the electrode ink layer 8 may be rapidly dried and cracks may occur on the surface. Alternatively, the same applies to the case where the suction roller 21 has a built-in heater and the electrode ink layer 8 immediately after coating is rapidly dried.

  In the present embodiment, the second drying furnace 50 is divided into three drying zones 51, 52, and 53, and the drying temperature is sequentially increased from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane 2. That is, the most upstream drying zone 51 raises the temperature of the electrode ink layer 8 slightly by blowing hot air of relatively low temperature onto the electrode ink layer 8 immediately after coating. Next, the intermediate drying zone 52 blows slightly hot hot air to gently dry the electrode ink layer 8. Then, the electrode ink layer 8 is strongly dried by blowing the hot hot air from the most downstream drying zone 53. As described above, by gradually increasing the drying temperature and drying the electrode ink layer 8 stepwise, the generation of cracks during the drying process can be prevented.

  In order to properly dry the electrode ink layer 8 while preventing the occurrence of cracks, it is necessary to appropriately manage the drying process time, and for example, about 60 seconds is preferable. The drying processing time is the total time for one electrode ink layer 8 to pass through the three drying zones 51, 52, 53. For example, if the suction roller 21 has a diameter of 400 mm and the three drying zones 51, 52, 53 cover approximately half of the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 21, the length is approximately 628 mm. In order to ensure 60 seconds as the drying process time under these conditions, the conveying speed of the electrolyte membrane 2 may be 10.4 mm / second. The conveyance speed of the electrolyte membrane 2 is defined by the rotation speed of the adsorption roller 21.

  Further, the second drying furnace 50 includes the heat blocking zone 54 on the most upstream side along the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 2 and includes the heat blocking zone 55 on the most downstream side. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the hot air blown from the drying zones 51, 52, 53 from flowing beyond the second drying furnace 50 to the upstream side and the downstream side of the suction roller 21. As a result, it is possible to prevent the back coating nozzle 40 located on the upstream side of the second drying furnace 50 and the second press roller 39 located on the downstream side from being unnecessarily heated.

  Further, the second drying furnace 50 is provided with suction portions 56 and 57 in addition to the heat blocking zones 54 and 55. The suction portions 56 and 57 can prevent hot air from flowing around the second drying furnace 50 and can prevent the vapor of the solvent volatilized from the electrode ink layer 8 during the drying.

  Next, by further rotation of the adsorption roller 21, the electrolyte membrane 2 reaches the second press roller 39, and the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 including the catalyst layer 9 is pressed against the second press roller 39. As a result, the electrolyte membrane 2 is peeled off from the adsorption roller 21 and suspended on the second press roller 39. At this time, the catalyst layer 9 formed on the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 and the second press roller 39 come into contact with each other, but the catalyst layer 9 is dried by the second drying furnace 50 to such an extent that ink does not adhere. Because there is no problem. The electrolyte membrane 2 peeled off from the adsorption roller 21 is taken up by the third take-up roller 38 and thereby sent out further downstream from the second press roller 39.

  The electrolyte membrane 2 as shown in FIG. 15 delivered from the second press roller 39 passes through the additional drying furnace 59. When the electrolyte membrane 2 passes through the inside of the additional drying furnace 59, the additional drying furnace 59 blows hot air on the catalyst layer 9, whereby the final finishing drying of the catalyst layer 9 is performed (step S14). Even if the catalyst layer 9 is not sufficiently dried in the first drying furnace 13 and the second drying furnace 50, the catalyst layer 9 can be reliably dried by the additional drying furnace 59. Thereby, the electrolyte membrane 2 having the catalyst layers 9 formed on both sides is completed as the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3.

  The electrolyte membrane 2 (in this case, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3) that has passed through the additional drying furnace 59 is wound up by the third winding roller 38 (step S15). At this time, in order to prevent the contact of the catalyst layers 9 having different polarities, the slip sheet may be sandwiched between the layers of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3. As described above, the film forming process for forming the catalyst layer 9 by applying the electrode ink to the back surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 in the back surface processing unit 20 is completed.

  In the membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment, the reforming unit 70 modifies the electrolyte membrane 2 by ultraviolet irradiation and hot press treatment, and the surface of the reformed electrolyte membrane 2 is modified. The catalyst layer 9 is formed by applying electrode ink to the back surface. The electrolyte membrane 2 used in the present embodiment contains perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid and expanded porous PTFE as a reinforcing material. As described above, in an electrolyte membrane using expanded porous PTFE as a reinforcing material, the reinforcing material may locally aggregate to exhibit a sea-island structure. Since the reinforcing material fluororesin has a high contact angle and tends to repel the electrode ink, if there is a part where the reinforcing material is locally agglomerated, the electrode ink is repelled at that part and uniform coating is hindered. There is a risk of being. As a result, the film thickness of the catalyst layer after the drying treatment may become non-uniform.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a coating state of the electrode ink in the case where the fluororesin reinforcing material is aggregated in the electrolyte membrane. In the electrolyte membrane 2 containing perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid and polytetrafluoroethylene as a reinforcing material, the fluororesin reinforcing material is locally aggregated to form a sea-island structure. Even if the electrode ink is uniformly applied to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2, the electrode ink is not formed in the region where the reinforcing material aggregation portion 99 is exposed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 as shown in FIG. The electrode ink layer 8 becomes thinner than other regions by being repelled. When the drying process is performed in such a coating state, the thickness of the catalyst layer 9 becomes relatively thin in the region where the aggregated portion 99 of the reinforcing material is exposed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2. The film thickness becomes non-uniform.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a film thickness profile of the catalyst layer in the case where the fluororesin reinforcement is aggregated in the electrolyte membrane. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the distance along a predetermined direction (for example, the width direction) from one point on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 after the drying treatment, and the vertical axis indicates the film thickness of the catalyst layer 9. As shown in FIG. 17, there is a part of the region where the film thickness of the catalyst layer 9 is relatively thin, and this region is a region where the aggregate 99 of the reinforcing material is exposed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2. is there.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the electrolyte membrane 2 is modified by ultraviolet irradiation and hot pressing before applying the electrode ink. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a film thickness profile of the catalyst layer 9 when the electrolyte membrane 2 is modified. Similarly to FIG. 17, the distance along the predetermined direction (for example, the width direction) from one point on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 after the drying treatment is shown on the horizontal axis, and the film thickness of the catalyst layer 9 is shown on the vertical axis. As is clear from comparison with FIG. 17, no significant variation is observed in the thickness of the catalyst layer 9, and the catalyst layer 9 having a uniform thickness is formed. This is presumably because local aggregation of the reinforcing material in the electrolyte membrane 2 was alleviated by ultraviolet irradiation and hot press treatment.

In order to obtain such a modification effect, the illuminance of ultraviolet rays on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 needs to be 0.03 mW / cm ² or more. On the other hand, since it is difficult to make the illuminance of ultraviolet rays on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 larger than 100 mW / cm ² unless it is too close to the electrolyte membrane 2 running on the ultraviolet lamp 72 a, the design of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72. Becomes extremely complex. For this reason, the illuminance in the electrolyte membrane second surface of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is directed to 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less. Preferably, the illuminance on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is ² mW / cm ² or more and 30 mW / cm ² or less.

In addition, in order to obtain the above-described modification effect, it is necessary that the cumulative amount of ultraviolet light irradiated to the electrolyte membrane 2 is 1.8 mJ / cm ² or more. On the other hand, when the integrated light quantity exceeds 15000 mJ / cm ² , the adhesiveness between the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6 becomes excessively high, and it becomes difficult to peel the back sheet 6 by the back surface treatment unit 20. For this reason, the cumulative amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 to the electrolyte membrane 2 is set to 1.8 mJ / cm ² or more and 15000 mJ / cm ² or less. Preferably, the cumulative amount of ultraviolet light applied to the electrolyte membrane 2 from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is 100 mJ / cm ² or more and 1200 mJ / cm ² or less.

By the way, the integrated light quantity is a value obtained by multiplying the illuminance of ultraviolet rays on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the irradiation time. Therefore, in order to obtain a predetermined integrated light amount, the illuminance of ultraviolet rays and the irradiation time on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 may be adjusted. When the illuminance of ultraviolet rays is low, it is necessary to lengthen the irradiation time (that is, slow the conveying speed of the electrolyte membrane 2). However, since the distance between the ultraviolet lamp 72a and the electrolyte membrane 2 can be set long, ultraviolet irradiation is performed. The design of the part 72 becomes easy. Conversely, when the illuminance of ultraviolet rays is high, the irradiation time can be shortened (that is, the conveying speed of the electrolyte membrane 2 can be increased), but the ultraviolet lamp 72a and the electrolyte membrane 2 must be brought close to each other. Design of the part 72 becomes difficult. In consideration of these balances, it is preferable to set the illuminance and irradiation time of ultraviolet rays. As an example, if the ultraviolet irradiation width on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 is 9 mm and the transport speed of the electrolyte membrane 2 is 10 mm / second, the ultraviolet irradiation time is 0.9 seconds. If the illuminance of ultraviolet rays on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 72 at this time is 2 mW / cm ² , the cumulative amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated to the electrolyte membrane 2 can be 1.8 mJ / cm ^2. .

  Further, the heating temperature of the pair of press rollers 73, 73, that is, the processing temperature at the time of hot press processing is set to 50 ° C. or more and 180 ° C. or less. When the treatment temperature during the hot press treatment is less than 50 ° C., it is difficult to obtain the modification effect of the electrolyte membrane 2. On the other hand, when the treatment temperature exceeds 180 ° C., there is a risk of causing thermal damage to the electrolyte membrane 2 and the back sheet 6. For this reason, the processing temperature at the time of a hot press process shall be 50 degreeC or more and 180 degrees C or less.

  Further, the compression rate by the pair of press rollers 73, 73 is set to 20% or more and 60% or less. The reason for this is that if the compression ratio is less than 20%, a sufficient modification effect of the electrolyte membrane 2 cannot be obtained, and if it exceeds 60%, the electrolyte membrane 2 and the backsheet 6 are mechanically damaged. This is because there is a fear. Preferably, the compression rate by the pair of press rollers 73, 73 is 30% or more and 50% or less.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those described above without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the modification unit 70 modifies the electrolyte membrane 2 by ultraviolet irradiation and hot pressing, but when the necessary and sufficient modification effect is obtained by ultraviolet irradiation. The hot press process is not essential. That is, when the cumulative amount of ultraviolet light irradiated to the electrolyte membrane 2 is sufficiently high, the necessary modification effect can be obtained only by ultraviolet irradiation, and even if the hot press treatment is omitted, the electrolyte membrane 2 is uniform. A catalyst layer 9 having a film thickness can be formed. However, in the case of performing a hot press treatment, a necessary modification effect can be obtained even when the illuminance of ultraviolet rays is low and the irradiation time cannot be sufficiently secured.

  Further, instead of hot pressing in the reforming unit 70, plasma treatment may be performed on the electrolyte membrane 2 to promote reforming. As the plasma treatment, for example, uniform glow discharge plasma can be used under normal pressure.

  In the above embodiment, the reforming unit 70, the surface treatment unit 10, and the back surface treatment unit 20 are separated from each other, and the roll of the electrolyte membrane 2 once taken up by the take-up roller is reattached to the unwind roller in the next step. However, these may be connected inline. Specifically, the surface treatment unit 10 is connected to the subsequent stage of the reforming unit 70, and electrode ink is applied from the surface coating nozzle 12 to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 that has passed through the pair of press rollers 73, 73. May be. Further, the back surface processing unit 20 may be connected to the subsequent stage of the surface processing unit 10 so that the electrolyte membrane 2 sent out from the first drying furnace 13 is directly fed to the peeling unit 30.

  Further, the technology according to the present invention is not limited to the application to the production of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 3 of the fuel cell, but to the production of a composite membrane in which a functional layer is formed on another kind of thin film. You can also In particular, the present invention provides a composite membrane in which a functional layer is formed on a thin film by applying a coating liquid to a thin film containing a fluororesin as a reinforcing material and drying the same as the electrolyte membrane 2 described above. The manufacturing technique concerning can be used suitably.

  The present invention is applied to a manufacturing technique of a membrane / catalyst layer assembly in which a catalyst layer is formed on an electrolyte membrane by applying an electrode ink to a polymer electrolyte membrane containing a fluororesin as a reinforcing material and drying it. It is particularly suitable for the production of a membrane / catalyst layer assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manufacturing system 2 Electrolyte membrane 3 Membrane / catalyst layer assembly 5 Front sheet 6 Back sheet 8 Electrode ink layer 9 Catalyst layer 10 Surface treatment unit 11 Second unwinding roller 12 Surface coating nozzle 13 First drying furnace 14 Second volume Take-up roller 15 Backup roller 20 Back surface processing unit 21 Adsorption roller 30 Peeling part 32 Third unwinding roller 38 Third winding roller 40 Back surface coating nozzle 50 Second drying furnace 59 Additional drying furnace 70 Reforming unit 71 First unwinding Roller 72 Ultraviolet irradiation unit 72a Ultraviolet lamp 73 Press roller 74 First winding roller 76 Peeling roller 77 Heating unit 90 Control unit

Claims (11)

An electrolyte membrane reformer for modifying an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell,
Transport means for transporting the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane having one surface bonded to the support member at a predetermined speed;
The accumulated light amount of ultraviolet within a wavelength range of 100nm~400nm on the other surface at 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less of illuminance of the electrolyte membrane 1.8mJ / cm ² or more which is conveyed by said conveying means Irradiating means for irradiating to 15000 mJ / cm ² or less;
An electrolyte membrane reformer characterized by comprising: The electrolyte membrane reformer according to claim 1, wherein
A pair of presses provided downstream of the irradiation unit along the transport path of the electrolyte membrane by the transport unit and compressing the electrolyte membrane bonded to the support member from one side and the other side Laura,
Heating means for heating the pair of press rollers to 50 ° C. or higher and 180 ° C. or lower;
An electrolyte membrane reformer further comprising: The electrolyte membrane reformer according to claim 2, wherein
The compression rate by the pair of press rollers is 20% or more and 60% or less. In the electrolyte membrane reformer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The electrolyte membrane reforming apparatus, wherein the electrolyte membrane is a polymer electrolyte membrane containing polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid. A membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system for forming a catalyst layer on an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell,
The electrolyte membrane reformer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A coating means for coating a coating liquid on one side and / or the other side of the electrolyte membrane;
Drying means for drying the coating solution applied to the electrolyte membrane to form a catalyst layer;
A membrane / catalyst layer assembly manufacturing system comprising: An electrolyte membrane modification method for modifying an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, comprising:
While conveying a strip-shaped electrolyte membrane one side is bonded to the support member at a predetermined speed, said the other surface of the electrolyte membrane with ultraviolet within a wavelength range of 100 nm to 400 nm 0.03 mW / cm ² or more 100 mW / cm ² or less A method for modifying an electrolyte membrane comprising an irradiation step of irradiating so that an integrated light amount is 1.8 mJ / cm ² or more and 15000 mJ / cm ² or less at an illuminance of 1 to ² . In the electrolyte membrane modification method according to claim 6,
After the irradiation step, the method further includes a hot pressing step of compressing the electrolyte membrane bonded to the supporting member by a pair of press rollers heated to 50 ° C. or more and 180 ° C. or less from one side and the other side. An electrolyte membrane modification method characterized by the above. The method for modifying an electrolyte membrane according to claim 7,
The compression rate by the pair of press rollers in the hot pressing step is 20% or more and 60% or less, and the electrolyte membrane modification method is characterized in that: The method for modifying an electrolyte membrane according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
The method for modifying an electrolyte membrane, wherein the electrolyte membrane is a polymer electrolyte membrane containing polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluorocarbonsulfonic acid. A method for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly in which a catalyst layer is formed on an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell,
A first coating step of coating a coating solution on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane surface-modified by the electrolyte membrane modification method according to any one of claims 6 to 9;
A first drying step of drying the coating liquid applied to the other surface of the electrolyte membrane to form a catalyst layer;
A method for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly, comprising: In the manufacturing method of the membrane-catalyst layer assembly according to claim 10,
A second coating step of peeling the support member from one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and coating the coating liquid without performing ultraviolet irradiation on the one surface;
A second drying step of forming a catalyst layer by drying a coating solution applied to one surface of the electrolyte membrane;
A process for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly, further comprising:

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