JP2018098108A - Method for manufacturing electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for fuel battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable easy delamination of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and a support base to increase productivity of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly.SOLUTION: A method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel battery comprises: a preparation step S10 of preparing a support base-attached electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly; a half-cut step S11 of partially cutting only the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane and the support base so that a binding portion connecting to a discard of the electrolyte membrane, which is not completely cut, is formed in a part of the electrolyte membrane extending along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly; a first delamination step S12a of pulling the discard of the electrolyte membrane toward a direction of delamination from the support base to delaminate the electrolyte membrane from a start of delamination to the binding part; a second delamination step S12b of pulling the discard of the electrolyte membrane until the discard of the electrolyte membrane and the binding part are broken; a third delamination step S12c in which the binding part with the electrolyte membrane is broken, and the discard of the electrolyte membrane is delaminated from the support base; and a separation step S13 of separating the support base-attached electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly from the support base by delamination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell.

  A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as PEFC) generates electric power and heat simultaneously by electrochemically reacting a fuel gas containing hydrogen with an oxidant gas containing oxygen such as air. .

  The PEFC includes, as basic components, an electrolyte membrane that selectively transports hydrogen ions, and an anode and a cathode that are electrodes formed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane. These electrodes have a catalyst layer formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) disposed outside the catalyst layer. GDL has both air permeability and electronic conductivity.

  Thus, an electrolyte membrane and an electrode are integrally joined and assembled to form an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly (MEA: Membrane Electrode Assembly). This electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is generally formed as a transport film with the electrolyte membrane portion in close contact with a support substrate.

  As a manufacturing method for obtaining an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly from an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate, the outer shape of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate is cut by a cutting blade or a laser and supported. After separating the base material and the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in close contact with each other, the support base material and the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly are peeled off to obtain an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for the fuel cell. A method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  10 (a) is a plan view of a conventional electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate, and FIG. 10 (b) is an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate shown in FIG. 10 (a). It is a HH sectional view taken on the line.

  FIG. 11A is a plan view of an electrolyte membrane formed after cutting a conventional electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate together with the supporting substrate, and an end material portion of the supporting substrate, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of the electrolyte membrane shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 (a) is a plan view of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate formed after cutting the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate together with the supporting substrate, and FIG. It is the JJ sectional view taken on the line of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material shown to Fig.12 (a).

  FIG. 13A is a side view of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in which a supporting base material is separated from a conventional electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material, and FIG. 13B is a side view of FIG. It is a side view of the support base material which isolate | separated the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a support base shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 show a state from obtaining an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material to obtaining an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly.

  10 (a) and 10 (b), the cathode 2A is formed on the upper surface of the electrolyte membrane 10 and the anode 2B is formed on the lower surface, which is larger than the two-dot chain line cutting scheduled line 30 over the entire circumference. A releasable support base material 20 having the same size is adhered and bonded together at the close contact portion 3 outside the anode 2B.

  In FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12B, the hole 60 is formed by being extracted with a cutting blade. The outer dimensions of the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support substrate 20 of the cut electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1T with the support substrate thus obtained are the same, and between the electrolyte membrane 10 outside the anode 2B and the support substrate 20. The close contact portion 3 is in close contact with the outer periphery without a gap.

  13 (a) and 13 (b), the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 is obtained by peeling the support substrate 20 from the cut electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1T with a support substrate by some method. .

Japanese Patent No. 5857937

  However, in the above conventional configuration, when the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in which the electrode is formed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate are in close contact with each other, and the support substrate is cut off using the cutting blade, Electrolyte membrane with support base material-The outer dimensions of the electrolyte membrane and the support base material of the electrode assembly are the same size, so that there is no gap between the close contact parts, and there is no stagnation part for peeling the close contact part from the outside. There was a problem that it was difficult to stably peel the base material and the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in a short time, and the productivity of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly was low.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and enables an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and a supporting substrate to be easily peeled off, thereby improving the productivity of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly. It aims at providing the manufacturing method of an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the method for producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to the present invention is completely applied to a part of the electrolyte membrane along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in the half-cut process. The electrolyte membrane and the supporting base material are only partially cut so that there is a connecting part that is connected to the electrolyte membrane end material without being cut, and in the peeling step, the electrolyte membrane end material is supported The connecting part is peeled off from the supporting base material with the force of pulling in the direction of peeling from the material, the connecting part is torn off, and external air is introduced into the space sealed at least by the electrolyte membrane and the supporting base material It is.

  Thus, when the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is obtained from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material, external air is introduced into the space sealed at least by the electrolyte membrane and the supporting base material at the support base peeling start portion. Has been introduced, and can be used to peel off the supporting substrate.

  The method for producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to the present invention is a half-cut process, in which the electrolyte membrane end material is not completely cut into a part of the electrolyte membrane along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly. Only the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane and the supporting substrate is partially cut so that a connecting portion that connects to the substrate is formed, and in the peeling process, it is connected by a force that pulls the end material of the electrolyte membrane in the direction of peeling from the supporting substrate. The part is peeled off from the supporting base material, the connecting part is torn off, and external air is introduced into the space sealed at least by the electrolyte membrane and the supporting base material. Therefore, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and the supporting base The material can be easily peeled off, and the productivity of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly can be improved.

The flowchart which shows the main manufacturing processes of the manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the process of manufacturing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly continuously from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a strip | belt-shaped support base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) is a top view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) is AA of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material shown to (a). Line cross section (A) is the top view after the half cut process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) is the electrolyte membrane-electrode joining with a supporting base material shown to (a). BB sectional drawing of a body, (c) is the elements on larger scale of the part enclosed with (circle) of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a support base material shown to (b) (A) is a top view in the 1st peeling process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) is the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material shown to (a). Sectional view of line CC (A) is a top view in the 2nd peeling process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) is the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material shown to (a). DD line sectional view of (A) is a top view in the 3rd peeling process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) is the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material shown to (a). EE line cross section (A) is the top view in the completion of the peeling process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, (b) is the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate shown in (a). FF sectional view (A) is a plan view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly after the separation step in which the supporting substrate is separated from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and (b) is a diagram (a). GG sectional view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly shown (A) is a plan view of a conventional electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate shown in (a). (A) is a plan view of an electrolyte membrane formed after cutting a conventional electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate together with the supporting substrate, and an end material portion of the supporting substrate, and (b) is the electrolyte shown in (a). II sectional view of the end material part of the membrane and the supporting base material (A) is a plan view of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate formed after the conventional electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate is cut together with the supporting substrate, and (b) is the support shown in (a). JJ cross section of electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with substrate (A) is a conventional electrolyte membrane with a supporting substrate-electrolyte membrane in which a supporting substrate is separated from an electrode assembly-a side view of the electrode assembly, and (b) is an electrolyte membrane with a supporting substrate shown in (a)- Side view of the support substrate with the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly separated from the electrode assembly

  1st invention is a manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells, Comprising: The electrolyte membrane with which the electrode was formed in both surfaces closely_contact | adhered to the single side | surface of a support base material was electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly A half-cut step for partially half-cutting the electrode so as to surround the electrode, a peeling step for peeling off the end material of the electrolyte membrane after the half-cut from the support substrate, and an electrolyte membrane separated from the electrolyte membrane- A separation step of separating the electrode assembly and the support substrate, and in the half-cut step, the electrolyte membrane is not completely cut into a part of the portion along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in the electrolyte membrane. A force that cuts only the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane and the supporting base material in order to create a connecting portion that connects to the end material, and pulls the end material of the electrolyte membrane from the supporting base material in the peeling process. From the support base Peeled come, the connecting portion with torn off, the space being sealed by at least an electrolyte membrane and the supporting substrate, a manufacturing method of introducing external air.

  In this manufacturing method, by introducing air into a space sealed between the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate, a portion that is not in close contact with the support substrate is formed on the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly. Thereby, it can peel easily by making the part which is not closely_contact | adhered to a support base material to the outer peripheral part of an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly.

  In the second invention, particularly in the peeling step of the first invention, when the end material of the electrolyte membrane pulls the connecting portion, the force to peel the electrolyte membrane from the support substrate through the connecting portion prevents the peeling. When the outside air is introduced into the space that is sealed at least between the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate, the peripheral length of the adhesion portion between the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate is increased and the separation is performed. In the manufacturing method, the hindering force breaks beyond the force at which the joint portion breaks.

  In this manufacturing method, when the end of the electrolyte membrane pulls the joining portion by the step of peeling off the end of the electrolyte membrane, the force to peel the electrolyte membrane from the supporting substrate through the joining portion has a force that prevents the separation. Therefore, the connecting portion begins to peel from the adhesion portion of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly.

  Further, as the end material of the electrolyte membrane is pulled, the circumference of the close contact portion between the electrolyte membrane and the support base increases, and the force that prevents peeling exceeds the force that breaks the connecting portion, so that the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly becomes an electrolyte membrane. The joint part is broken before it is peeled off and detached.

  At this time, air is introduced into the space sealed between the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate, and the electrolyte membrane-electrode is formed in a state where the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is not in close contact with the support substrate. The joined body is attached to the support base material. As a result, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is not detached from the support substrate, and the support substrate can be stably and easily peeled off by using a portion that is not in close contact with the support substrate on the outer periphery. .

  In the third aspect of the invention, the supporting base material of the second aspect of the invention is a belt-like transport film, and in the half-cut process, the electrolyte membrane adhered to the supporting base material is electroded along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly. Is a half-cut in a substantially C shape so as to surround, and the connecting portion is a manufacturing method located on the transport direction side of the transport film rather than the electrode.

  In this manufacturing method, when the belt-shaped transport film and the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in which electrodes are formed on the electrolyte membrane at a certain interval are in close contact and sent in the transport direction, The electrolyte membrane closely adhered to the material is partially half-cut into a substantially C shape so as to surround the electrode along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, and a connecting portion is provided on the conveyance direction side of the conveyance film, Air can be introduced into the space sealed between the electrolyte membrane and the supporting substrate while continuously peeling the end material of the electrolyte membrane from the conveying direction side of the conveying film. An electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly can be obtained continuously from the electrode assembly.

  The fourth invention is a manufacturing method in which the connecting portions of the third invention are formed in a plurality of locations, and in this manufacturing method, an electrolyte membrane adhered to a supporting substrate in a half-cut step is used as an electrolyte membrane. -Along the electrode assembly, a plurality of connecting portions are provided at appropriate positions on the transport direction side of the transport film so as to surround the electrodes, and the electrolyte membrane is partially cut, so that the end of the ladder-shaped electrolyte membrane When stripping the material continuously from the transport direction side of the transport film, it can be stripped evenly, so the balance is lost when stripping the end material, and there is no winding failure of the end material due to twisting and cutting in the middle, and stable It can be peeled while cutting the connecting portion.

The fifth invention is a manufacturing method in which the joint portion of any one of the first to fourth inventions is cut to the middle of the thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane, and in this manufacturing method, the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane is connected at the joint portion. By cutting in the middle of the thickness direction, it is possible to weaken the force required to break the connecting portion of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly when peeling off the end material. The connecting portion is not torn off from the electrolyte membrane, and the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is not peeled off together with the end material, and the connecting portion can be reliably torn off from the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly. it can.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Also, in the following, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing main manufacturing steps of a method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a process of continuously producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly from the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a support base material according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 (a) is a plan view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (b) is with the supporting base material shown in FIG. 3 (a). It is an AA line sectional view of an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly.

  FIG. 4A is a plan view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting base material according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention after a half-cut process, and FIG. 4B is shown in FIG. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate taken along line B-B, and FIG. 4C is surrounded by a circle of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate shown in FIG. It is the elements on larger scale.

  Fig.5 (a) is a top view in the 1st peeling process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, FIG.5 (b) is shown to Fig.5 (a). It is CC sectional view taken on the line of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate.

  FIG. 6 (a) is a plan view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in the second peeling step, and FIG. 5 (b) is shown in FIG. 5 (a). It is the DD sectional view taken on the line of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate.

  Fig.7 (a) is a top view in the 3rd peeling process of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material of Embodiment 1 of this invention, FIG.7 (b) is shown to Fig.7 (a). It is the EE sectional view taken on the line of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material.

  FIG. 8 (a) is a plan view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention after the peeling process is completed, and FIG. 8 (b) is shown in FIG. 8 (a). It is the FF sectional view taken on the line of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a base material.

  FIG. 9A is a plan view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly after the separation step in which the supporting substrate is separated from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a substrate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flowchart showing the main manufacturing steps of the method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell in the present embodiment is a preparation step for preparing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate. S10 and the electrolyte membrane of the electrolyte membrane and the supporting substrate so that a part of the portion of the electrolyte membrane along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is connected to the end material of the electrolyte membrane without being completely cut A half-cut process S11 for partially cutting only, a peeling process S12 for peeling off the end material of the electrolyte membrane from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate, and an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate and a supporting substrate And separation step S13 for separating and separating.

  The peeling step S12 is further performed by pulling the end material of the electrolyte membrane from the supporting base material in a direction to peel off from the start of peeling until the joining portion, and until the joining portion and the end material of the electrolyte membrane are broken. The second peeling step S12b and the connecting portion of the electrolyte membrane are broken, and the end material of the electrolyte membrane is separated into a third peeling step S12c in which the end material is peeled off from the support substrate.

  In FIG. 2, the process of continuously processing the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a belt-like support substrate includes a preparation process S10, a half-cut process S11, a peeling process S12, and a separation process S13. .

  The electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 </ b> R with a belt-like support base is formed at intervals with the cathode 2 </ b> A on the upper surface of the belt-like support base 20 and the belt-like electrolyte membrane 10 and the anode 2 </ b> B on the lower surface. A strip-like support base material 20 having the same size as that of the belt-like electrolyte membrane is adhered and bonded together at the close contact portion 3 outside the anode 2B. There is almost no adhesion between the anode 2B and the support substrate 20.

  The belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a supporting substrate is processed from the left in the order of the preparation step S10, then the half-cut step S11, the peeling step S12, and the separation step S13.

  The preparation step S10 is a step of sending the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a supporting base wound around the roller A51 to the next step with the cathode 2A facing up.

  Half-cut process S11 irradiates laser to 1R of belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a support base material using laser irradiation device 50 which performs half cut processing installed in the opposite side to support base material 20, and is half It is a process of cutting.

  In the peeling step S12, a roller B52 that determines a tensile direction when peeling the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane from the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a supporting substrate and a roller C53 that winds up the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane are used. In this step, the end member 10A of the electrolyte membrane is continuously peeled from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with the belt-like support base material, and the first peeling step S12a shown in FIG. 5 and the second peeling shown in FIG. Step S12b has a third peeling step S12c shown in FIG.

  The separation step S13 includes an adsorption jig 56 for adsorbing the electrolyte membrane 10 portion from the cathode 2A side and the support base material 20 on the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 in close contact with the support base material 20 from which the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane has been peeled off. From the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane with a supporting base material-electrode assembly 1R from which the end material 10A of the electrolytic membrane has been peeled off using the roller D54 that peels off and the roller E55 that winds up the supporting base material 20, the electrolyte membrane- In this step, the electrode assembly 100 is obtained and the belt-like support base material 20 is wound around the roller E55.

  FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with a supporting base material in the preparation step S10. The AA line cross section (FIG.3 (b)) of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with a support base material is a cross section of the part which passes along the connection part which is due to be installed by a post process.

  A cathode 2A is formed on the upper surface of the electrolyte membrane 10 and the anode 2B is formed on the lower surface of the electrolyte membrane 10 that is larger than the two-dot chain line scheduled cutting line 30 over the entire circumference, and a detachable support base 20 having the same size as the electrolyte membrane 10 is formed on the anode 2B. Are closely adhered to each other at the close contact portion 3 outside. There is almost no adhesion between the anode 2B and the support substrate 20.

  FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with the supporting base material in the half-cut step S11. In the half-cut portion 6, only the electrolyte membrane 10 is cut, and the support base material 20 is not cut.

  As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4 (c), in order to completely cut the electrolyte membrane 10, the electrolyte membrane 10 is penetrated and a part of the support base material 20 is cut, but the cut is not performed. is there.

  The half-cut portion 6 is on the line to be cut, but the connecting portion 4 is partially installed so that the line is not closed. Here, the electrolyte membrane 10 is not cut. The connecting portion can be set at an arbitrary position. Here, the outer portion of the cutting line in the electrolyte membrane 10 is particularly referred to as an electrolyte membrane end material 10A.

  FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with a supporting base material in the first peeling step S12a. A cross section taken along the line CC (FIG. 5B) shows a cross section of a portion passing through the position where the connecting portion 4 is installed.

  The first peeling step S12a starts peeling in the peeling direction while pulling the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with the supporting base material in the tensile direction, and the position where the peeling from the supporting base material 20 starts is connected. A state in the middle of reaching part 4 is shown.

  By pulling the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane in the pulling direction, air is introduced into the sealed space between the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane and the support base material 20 and the electrolyte membrane from the support base material 20 to the joint portion 4. The end material 10A is peeled off. At this time, air is not introduced into the sealed space between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support substrate 20.

  FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with the supporting base material in the second peeling step S12b. A DD line cross section (FIG. 6B) shows a cross section of a portion passing through a position where the connecting portion 4 is installed.

  As for 2nd peeling process S12b, the position which peeled off the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with a supporting base material arrives at the connection part 4, and between the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane and the connection part 4 Shows the state until rupture.

  By pulling the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane in the tensile direction, the electrolyte membrane 10 is peeled from the support base material 20 through the joint portion 4, and the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 are sealed from the position of the joint portion 4. Air begins to be introduced into the open space.

  FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with the supporting base material in the third peeling step S12c. The cross section taken along the line EE (FIG. 7B) shows a cross section of a portion passing through the position of the non-contact portion 5.

  In the third peeling step S12c, the electrolyte membrane end material 10A and the joint portion 4 are broken by peeling the electrolyte membrane end material 10A from the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with the supporting base material, and then the electrolyte membrane 10 and the electrolyte membrane The end material 10A is separated, and a non-contact portion 5 formed by introducing air into the sealed space between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 is formed.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1 with the supporting base material when the end member 10A of the electrolyte membrane is completely peeled in the peeling step S12. A cross section taken along line F-F (FIG. 8B) shows a cross section of a portion passing through the position of the non-contact portion 5. A non-contact portion 5 is formed in a sealed space between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 from the end of the electrolyte membrane 10 toward the anode 2B.

  FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show the state of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 after the separation step S13. The cathode 2A is formed on the upper surface of the electrolyte membrane 10, and the anode 2B is formed on the lower surface of the electrolyte membrane 10 at the same position and the same size as the cathode 2A. The outer shape of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 is the same size as the line to be cut. It is.

  Specifically, both electrodes are formed as follows. 35 g of water and 59 g of an alcohol dispersion of hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte (9% FSS, manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) were mixed and stirred in 10 g of catalyst powder in which platinum was supported on Ketjen Black EC at a weight ratio of 1: 1. Make ink. Next, this ink is applied and dried to a thickness of 20 μm on both main surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 10 using a spray coating to form electrodes.

  Here, the electrolyte membrane 10 is a proton conductive ion exchange membrane formed of a solid polymer material and a fluorine-based resin, and exhibits good electrical conductivity in a wet state. The cathode 2A and the anode 2B are electrodes formed by coating a conductive carrier carrying a platinum catalyst, carbon particles (hereinafter referred to as catalyst-carrying carbon particles) with an ionomer having proton conductivity, and an electrolyte membrane. 10 are bonded to both surfaces to form an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly.

  Here, the ionomer is a polymer electrolyte resin (fluorine resin) that is the same solid polymer material as the electrolyte membrane 10 and has proton conductivity due to the ion exchange group that the ionomer has.

  As the electrolyte membrane 10, a perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid membrane (Nafion 211 (registered trademark) of DuPont) is used. The support base 20 is a polyester film having a thickness of 100 μm (Toyobo Cosmo Shine A4100 (registered trademark)).

  Further, the laser irradiation apparatus is a carbon dioxide laser, and ML-Z9520 manufactured by Keyence is used. The output during irradiation is 70%, and the scanning speed is 400 mm / s.

  About the manufacturing method of the above electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a belt-like support base material wound in a roll shape is prepared, and the support base material 20 is placed on the lower surface with respect to the transport direction in the preparation step S10 that is the head of the continuous manufacturing step. And a predetermined feed amount is sent to the next half-cut process S11. The feed amount is determined by the position where the electrode is formed.

  In the half cut step S11, the laser irradiation device 50 is used to irradiate the electrolyte membrane 10 along the cutting line 30 while forming the connecting portion 4, and only the electrolyte membrane 10 is half cut and sent to the next step.

  In the peeling step S12, in order to stably peel the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane from the support base material 20, the tensile direction is determined by the roller B52 so as not to twist in the transport direction, and the end material of the electrolyte membrane is peeled off. 10A is wound in parallel by a roller C53 that winds up 10A.

  At this time, depending on the position and number of the connecting portions 4, the balance at the time of peeling may be lost, and twisting or breaking may occur. Therefore, the connecting portions 4 are provided at at least both corners of the cutting scheduled line 30 on the peeling start side. The width of the connecting portion 4 is determined based on the tensile strength of the electrolyte membrane 10, the adhesive strength with the supporting base material, the speed at which the end material 10 </ b> A of the electrolyte membrane is pulled, and the like. Here, it was 0.3 mm.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the force required to break the connecting portion 4 of the electrolyte membrane 10 is strong, and the force that prevents separation between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 is also weak, so that the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 is an electrolyte. In order to prevent peeling with the end material 10A of the membrane, in consideration of production stability, the electrolyte membrane 10 of the connecting portion 4 is cut by about half the thickness of the electrolyte membrane 10. This cutting can reduce the thermal energy applied to the electrolyte membrane 10 by reducing the output of the laser.

  From the strip-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with the support substrate half-cut in this manner, the electrolyte membrane end material 10A is predetermined in the transport direction and the direction of peeling from the support substrate 20 from the aforementioned peeling start side. When the peeling starts under the condition and the joining portion 4 is reached, the force to peel the electrolyte membrane 10 from the support base material 20 through the joining portion 4 peels off more than the force that prevents the peeling, and the inner side of the cutting line 30 External air is introduced into a space sealed with at least the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 to form the non-contact portion 5.

  Furthermore, if it continues pulling, while the area of the non-contact part 5 between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 increases, the peripheral length of the close contact part increases, and the force that prevents peeling is the force that the joint part 4 breaks. The electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 and the supporting base material 20 are separated from the end material 10A of the electrolyte membrane while keeping in close contact with each other without coming off. Thereby, the non-contact part 5 is formed between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 on the electrode side from the place where the connecting part 4 is installed.

  Since the electrolyte membrane end material 10A is connected in a ladder shape, the electrolyte membrane end material 10A can be continuously peeled from the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a supporting substrate.

  The non-contact part 5 formed in peeling process S12 exists in at least both corners of the cutting scheduled line 30 on the peeling start side.

  In order to obtain the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 continuously in the separation step S13, the roller D54 is moved in the peeling direction while the surface of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 on the cathode 2A side is adsorbed by the adsorption jig 56. The support substrate 20 is peeled off while moving, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 is delivered to the suction jig 56 side, and the support substrate 20 is wound up by the winding roller E55.

  Thereby, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 can be continuously obtained from the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a supporting substrate.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in order to obtain the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 from the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with the supporting base material, the preparation step S10, the half cut step S11, and the peeling step S12, having an equipment configuration having a separation step S13, forming the connecting portion 4 on the electrolyte membrane 10 and half-cutting only the electrolyte membrane 10, and peeling off the electrolyte membrane end material 10A from the side where the connecting portion 4 is present. By forming the non-contact portion 5 between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the support base material 20 from the connecting portion 4 to the electrode side, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 and the support base material 20 can be stably and continuously peeled off. Thus, the productivity of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 100 is improved.

  In addition, the roller in a figure is only a roller required for description, and is actually needed as needed in the required position.

In the above-described embodiment, a perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid membrane (Nafion 211 (registered trademark) of DuPont) was used as the electrolyte membrane. However, as the electrolyte membrane, a polymer containing fluorine is used as a skeleton, A functional group such as a sulfonic acid group, a carboxyl group, and a phosphoric acid group, and a hydrogen ion conductive fluorine-based resin containing hydrogen ions can be used.
Other electrolyte membranes such as Aciplex (registered trademark) and Flemion (registered trademark) can be used.

  Further, as the electrolyte membrane, a sulfonated polyphenylene, a sulfonated polybenzimidazole, a sulfonated polyetheretherketone, or the like as a skeleton and a hydrogen ion conductive hydrocarbon resin containing hydrogen ions may be used.

  Moreover, about a support base material, it can also form with polymer films, such as polyester systems, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), and polystyrene.

  Moreover, although it demonstrated in the process which processes continuously the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly 1R with a strip | belt-shaped support base material, it prepares with respect to the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a support base material cut out larger than the cutting plan line. The step S10, the half cut step S11, the peeling step S12, and the separation step S13 can be performed individually.

  The laser irradiation apparatus may be a laser apparatus capable of laser irradiation in a rectangular shape or a laser apparatus capable of two-dimensionally scanning a laser irradiation position in the vertical and horizontal directions. Laser materials include gases such as carbon dioxide and solids such as YAG, but can be selected as necessary. A Thomson blade can also be used as means for half-cutting.

  As described above, according to the method for producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell of the present invention, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly can be stably stabilized in a short time from the belt-shaped electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with a supporting substrate. Therefore, the productivity of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is improved, which is useful as a method for producing a fuel cell used in a cogeneration system, an electric vehicle, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyte membrane with support base material-electrode assembly 1R Electrode membrane with electrode support substrate-electrode assembly 1T Cut electrolyte membrane with support base material-electrode assembly 2A Cathode 2B Anode 3 Adhering portion 4 Connecting portion 5 Non Adhering portion 6 Half cut portion 10 Electrolyte membrane 10A End material of electrolyte membrane 20 Support base material 30 Cutting line 50 Laser irradiation device 51 Roller A
52 Roller B
53 Roller C
54 Roller D
55 Roller E
56 Suction Jig 60 Hole 100 Electrolyte Membrane-Electrode Assembly S10 Preparatory Step S11 Half Cut Step S12 Peeling Step S12a First Peeling Step S12b Second Peeling Step S12c Third Peeling Step S13 Separation Step

Claims (5)

A method for producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, comprising:
A half-cut step in which an electrolyte membrane having electrodes formed on both sides thereof in close contact with one side of a supporting substrate is partially half-cut so as to surround the electrode along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly; A peeling step of peeling off the end material of the electrolyte membrane after half-cutting from the support substrate;
A separation step of separating the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly separated from the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate;
Have
In the half cut step, the electrolyte membrane and the electrolyte membrane so that a part of the portion along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly in the electrolyte membrane is connected to the end material of the electrolyte membrane without being completely cut. Only the electrolyte membrane of the support substrate is partially cut,
In the peeling step, the joining portion is peeled off from the supporting base material by a force pulling the end material of the electrolyte membrane from the supporting base material, and the joining portion is torn off, and at least the electrolyte membrane And introducing external air into the space sealed with the support substrate,
A method for producing an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell. In the peeling step, the end material of the electrolyte membrane peels off the force that prevents the electrolyte membrane from being peeled from the support base material through the joining portion when pulling the joining portion, A force that prevents separation and increases the peripheral length of the close contact portion between the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate by introducing external air into a space that is sealed at least by the electrolyte membrane and the support substrate. Is broken above the force at which the connecting portion breaks,
The manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells of Claim 1. The support base material is a belt-shaped transport film,
In the half-cutting step, the electrolyte membrane adhered to the support substrate is partially half-cut into a substantially C shape so as to surround the electrode along the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly,
The connecting portion is located closer to the transport direction side of the transport film than the electrode.
The manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells of Claim 2. The connecting portion is formed at a plurality of locations.
The manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells of Claim 3. The connecting portion is cut halfway in the thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane,
The manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells of any one of Claim 1 to 4.

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