JP3345240B2 - Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stacked polymer electrolyte fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stacked polymer electrolyte fuel cell generally comprises a cell in which an anode and a cathode are arranged in the center of an ion exchange membrane, and a pair of cell plates in which an anode gas channel and a cathode gas channel are formed. And a current collector is interposed between the cell and the battery plate to form a basic unit of the battery. The anode gas and the cathode gas are pressurized to each electrode through the anode gas channel and the cathode gas channel. The electricity supplied and generated by the cell is taken out by a current collector.

[0003] In many practical products, such basic units are stacked in many layers so that a high voltage can be taken out. By the way, in such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the ion exchange membrane constituting the cell is thin and flexible, and the anode gas and the cathode gas are supplied under pressure. The electrode is arranged only at the center of the ion exchange membrane, and between the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane where the electrode is not arranged and the battery plate, a sealing member or a peripheral wall formed on the outer periphery of the battery plate. By sealing with a part or the like, the cell is held and the anode gas and the cathode gas do not leak out. In addition, the electrode portion at the center of the cell is sandwiched between the pair of current collectors from both sides and further sandwiched between the battery plates from outside, so that the ion exchange membrane can withstand the differential pressure between the anode gas and the cathode gas. Is available.

[0004]

However, in such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the ion exchange membrane is formed between the outer periphery of the cell electrode and the inner periphery of the seal portion due to the above-mentioned differential pressure or the like. Deformation to sag,
Further, there has been a problem that the ion exchange membrane is broken.

[0005] The deformation of the ion exchange membrane leads to the deterioration of the performance of the cell. If the ion exchange membrane is broken, the anode gas and the cathode gas are mixed, thereby impairing the function as a battery and extending the life of the battery. Therefore, a method for solving this has been desired. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of realizing a longer battery life by preventing the ion exchange membrane from being deformed or damaged, and a simple manufacturing method thereof. The purpose is to:

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cell having a pair of electrodes disposed at the center of an ion exchange membrane has a gas channel provided facing the electrodes. A pair of battery plates, and a pair of current collectors is interposed between the central portion of the cell and the battery plate, and between the outer peripheral portion of the cell and the pair of battery plates. Is a solid polymer fuel cell provided with a seal portion, wherein the current collector is provided outside the electrode.
An ion exchange membrane and a battery
Pressurizing doubles as filling material to fill gaps between plates
Outer edge made of porous material that shrinks
It is characterized by having been done.

According to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention, deformation and breakage of the ion exchange membrane are prevented by the outer peripheral end of the current collector also serving as the filler. In addition, since the outer peripheral edge portion also serving as the filler is formed on the current collector, the positional relationship between the current collector and the filler does not shift. Claim 2
In the described invention , a pair of electrodes is arranged at the center of the ion exchange membrane.
Cell was provided with a gas channel facing the electrode
It is configured to be sandwiched between a pair of battery plates, and
A pair of current collectors is inserted between the center and the battery plate.
Between the outer periphery of the cell and the pair of battery plates.
In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with the
An ion exchange membrane is provided between the outer periphery of the electrode and the seal portion.
Shrink by pressure to fill gap between battery plate
A filler made of a porous material is provided.
The cell part is a holding frame that holds the cell in a predetermined shape.
Function and the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane
It is characterized by being joined to. According to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention, the filler prevents the ion exchange membrane from being deformed or damaged. A seal portion having a function as a holding frame for holding the cell in a predetermined shape is formed.
Even if the cell exists alone (in a state where it is not built into the battery), the cell is sealed by the seal.
Is maintained in a predetermined shape. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cell in which a pair of electrodes are arranged in a central portion of an ion exchange membrane.
However, a pair of electrodes provided with gas channels facing the electrodes
It is configured to be sandwiched by a pond plate and at the center of the cell
A pair of current collectors is inserted between the battery
Between the outer periphery of the battery and the pair of battery plates
Ion exchange between the outer periphery of the electrode and the seal
Porous filling the gap between the exchange membrane and the battery plate
Method for manufacturing polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with filler
And the seal part is for holding the cell in a predetermined shape.
In addition to having the function of a holding frame,
It is joined to the outer periphery of the exchange membrane, and a pair of current collectors and
The cell is inserted into a pair of battery plates while
In the laminating step sandwiched by
Material is compressed to fill the space above the ion exchange membrane without gaps
While tightening the pair of battery plates,
Screw that seals the outer periphery of the battery
And a step.

[0008] By such a manufacturing method, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell above the filling material is filled with good workability and
It can be manufactured with high accuracy .

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present inventors have observed the phenomenon that an ion exchange membrane of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is deformed or damaged. It was found that a gap was formed on the ion exchange membrane along the outer periphery of the electrode, and the gap was closely related to the occurrence of deformation and breakage of the ion exchange membrane.

That is, since the thickness of the electrode of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is usually as thin as about 20 to 30 μm, the thickness of the gap formed along the outer periphery of the electrode is also small.
Due to the gap, the ion exchange membrane is deformed or broken by a differential pressure applied to the flexible ion exchange membrane. In addition, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell operates during normal operation so that the ion exchange membrane is humidified and kept in a wet state, but when the ion exchange membrane is dried during operation stop or the like, it contracts and contracts. Accordingly, the gaps of the ion exchange membrane may be damaged.

For example, in the conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell shown in FIG. 10, current collectors 340 and 341 slightly larger than the anode 312 and the cathode 313 are stacked. Therefore, the anode 312 and the cathode 313
The ion exchange membrane 311 and the current collectors 340, 341 are located between the outer circumferences 312a, 313a of the
And gaps 390 and 391 corresponding to the thickness of the anode 312 and the cathode 313. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the ion-exchange membrane 11 is pushed toward the gap 391 and deformed (that is, a state in which the membrane is sagged). Such a situation occurs when the pressure of the anode gas is higher than the pressure of the cathode gas.

If the current collectors 340 and 341 are set to the same size as the anode 312 and the cathode 313, the outer periphery 312 of the anode 312 and the cathode 313
A similar problem occurs because a gap is formed between the ion exchange membrane 311 and the battery plates 320 and 330 between the a and 313a and the sealing materials 350 and 360. Here, if the sealing materials 350 and 360 can be brought into close contact with the outer circumferences 312 a and 313 a of the anode 312 and the cathode 313, it is considered that the gaps 390 and 391 can be eliminated.

However, the anode 312 and the cathode 31
It is practically difficult to fit the outer peripheries 312a and 313a of the third electrode 3 and the outer peripheries of the current collectors 40 and 41 exactly, and the pair of cells 310 is inserted while the sealing materials 350 and 360 and the current collectors 340 and 341 are interposed. Battery plates 320, 3
In the process of assembling the battery in which the anode and cathode are sandwiched between the anodes 312 and the cathodes 31,
It is practically difficult to fit the outer circumferences 312a and 313a of the No. 3 tightly without any gap, and it is inevitable that a certain gap is formed.

The present inventors have found that by arranging a filler in a portion where the gap is formed, it is possible to prevent deformation and breakage of the ion exchange membrane, and have reached the present invention. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the central portion of the cell in which the electrodes are arranged.
And a pair of current collectors interposed between the battery plate and
Ion exchange between the outer periphery of the electrode and the seal
Also serves as a filler to fill the gap between the membrane and the battery plate
Since the outer peripheral end is formed, the outer peripheral end
Press and hold the exchange membrane from both sides. Therefore, the differential pressure
Deformation and breakage of the ion exchange membrane due to
Breakage due to shrinkage of the exchange membrane is also prevented. Also, with the current collector
The positional relationship with the filler does not shift.

At the time of assembling the fuel cell, such a collection is
If the conductor is placed on the electrode, the placement of the filler in the cell
It can be performed automatically and has excellent workability. Also, current collection
The body is made of breathable material such as porous carbon
Is compressed or elastic by pressure
Therefore, it is suitable as a filler material.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the outer periphery of the electrode
Between the ion exchange membrane and the battery plate
Filling the gap between, porous shrinkage by pressure
A filler made of a material is provided, and the seal portion is
Function as a holding frame that holds the
As well as being bonded to the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane
I have. Therefore, even when the cell is present alone (in a state where the cell is not incorporated in the battery), the cell is connected to the holding frame.
To the specified shape by the seal part which also has the function of
Will be retained.

[0017]

[0018]

Accordingly, when assembling the fuel cell, the cell is less likely to be deformed or changed in size due to drying of the cell and the like, so that the workability of assembling the cell is excellent. The material of the seal portion needs to have the same heat resistance and pressure resistance as the material of the filler, and also needs some rigidity. Specific examples of the material of the seal portion include heat-resistant polymer materials (polyamide, polyimide, polysulfone, melamine resin, urea resin, A
BS resin, epoxy resin, diallyl phthalate resin, silicon resin, polythiazole, PTFE, boron nitride, graphite, etc.) or glass fiber, synthetic fiber,
A material having increased rigidity by filling with cellulose fibers or the like can be used. In addition, the material of the filler needs to have heat resistance to withstand the operating temperature (about 100 ° C.) of the battery and pressure resistance to withstand the operating pressure, and further has appropriate flexibility and elasticity. It is desirable. Specific examples and
For example, polyamide, polyimide, polysulfone,
Min resin, urea resin, ABS resin, epoxy resin, dia
Ril phthalate resin, silicon resin, polythiazole,
High heat resistance such as Litetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
A porous material with foamed molecules can be used.
You.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the outer periphery of the electrode
Between the ion exchange membrane and the battery plate
Filling the gap between, porous shrinkage by pressure
A filler made of a material is provided, and an ion exchange membrane is provided.
On the outer periphery, a holding frame for holding the cells in a predetermined shape is provided.
The sealing part is overlaid on the holding frame.
Have been. Seal material and filler material, etc.
Is the same as above. The fuel cell according to claim 2
As in the case of the invention described in (1), cells are held by the holding frame.
Since it can be held in a predetermined shape, the fuel cell
When standing up, it may be deformed due to cell drying etc.
Changes can be reduced, and the battery assembly
Excellent workability. According to the invention described in claim 4, the filling material
When the material is pressed with the pressure that the battery plate clamps
The material to be compressed. Therefore, the filler before being compressed
As the material for the material, a thick material can be used.
Excellent workability when assembling the battery, and an ion exchange membrane
Of filling the gap between the battery and the battery plate without any gap
You.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cell
With a function as a holding frame for holding in the shape of
To the outer periphery of the ion-exchange membrane.
In TEP, a pair of current collectors and a porous filler material are interposed.
While inserting, the cell is sandwiched between a pair of battery plates,
Later, in the tightening step, the filler material is compressed
While filling the space on the exchange membrane without gaps,
While tightening the rate, the cell and a pair of battery plates
Seal the outer periphery. According to this manufacturing method, when performing the laminating step, the cells are held in a predetermined shape by the seal portion, and even if the ion exchange membrane is dried, the cells are less likely to deform or change in dimensions. The battery can be assembled with good workability and high accuracy. According to the invention described in claim 6, a frame forming step
A holding frame for holding the cells in a predetermined shape
Insertion between ion-exchange membrane and seal
After bonding to the outer periphery of the exchange membrane,
In the laminating step, the pair of current collectors and the filler material
While holding the cell between a pair of battery plates.
In the tightening step after the laminating step,
Compress the filler material to create a space on the ion exchange membrane without gaps
Tighten a pair of battery plates while filling
Then, seal the cell and the outer periphery of the pair of battery plates.
You. Also in this manufacturing method, the invention according to claim 5 is provided.
Similar to the above, when performing the lamination step, the cell
Is held in a predetermined shape by the ion exchange membrane.
Even if dry, cells may deform or change dimensions.
Battery with good workability and accuracy
I can do it.

[0022]

Embodiment 1 (Reference Example 1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a basic unit in a reference example of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. This fuel cell 1
Is sandwiched between a cell 10 having an anode 12 and a cathode 13 at the center of the ion exchange membrane 11 (in FIG. 1, behind the ion exchange membrane 11 and not visible; see FIG. 2). A pair of current collectors 40 and 41 interposed between the battery plates 20 and 30 and the cell 10 so as to be in contact with the pair of battery plates 20 and 30 and the anode 12 and the cathode 13; Sealing material 5 interposed between the outer peripheral portion of cell 30 and cell 10 to seal this portion
0, 60, the outer periphery 12a of the anode 12, and the cathode 13
1 are arranged along the outer periphery 13a (not visible in FIG. 1; see FIG. 2), and are composed of fillers 70, 80 filling the space between the ion exchange membrane 11 and the current collectors 40, 41.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of Reference Example 1 is
A predetermined number of such basic unit fuel cells 1 are stacked, and both ends of the stack are pressed by a pair of end plates (not shown). The number of basic units to be stacked is set according to a voltage to be output. The ion exchange membrane 11 is made of Nafion 115 (Nafion is a trade name,
USA DuPont, 0.13 mm thick). Anode 12, cathode 13
Has a predetermined thickness (20 to
30 μm), which is in close contact with the center of the ion exchange membrane 11 and has a predetermined platinum loading (0.7 mg /
cm ² ). Further, four circular windows 14, 15, 16,... For forming an internal manifold are opened at the four corners of the outer peripheral portion of the ion exchange membrane 11.

Each of the battery plates 20 and 30 is a plate made of a carbon material having the same size as the ion exchange membrane 11.
A plurality of anode gas channels 21 are engraved on the side opposite to (not visible in FIG. 1 because it is formed on the back side of the battery plate; see FIG. 2), and the battery plate 3
A plurality of cathode gas channels 31... Are engraved on the side facing the 0 cathode 13.

Each of the battery plates 20 and 30 is also provided with four circular windows 24, 25, 26 and 27 and windows 34, 35, 36... For forming an internal manifold. Window 34 and window 36 as shown.
Are connected to a plurality of cathode gas channels 31... And are not shown in the figure, but similarly to the windows 25 and 2.
7 communicates with a plurality of cathode gas channels 21.

The current collectors 40 and 41 are made of a porous carbon thin plate subjected to a water-repellent treatment, and are formed to have dimensions slightly larger than the anode 12 and the cathode 13. And
The anode 12 and the plurality of anode gas channels 21 face each other via the current collector 40, and the cathode 13 faces the plurality of cathode gas channels 31 via the current collector 41.

The sealing members 50 and 60 are frame-shaped plates made of a resilient material (eg, EPDM rubber), and the outer periphery thereof has the same size as the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane 11. The inner circumferences 50a and 60a are
The dimensions are the same as the outer circumferences 40a and 41a of the. Also, each of the sealing members 50, 60 has four circular windows 54, 55, 56,.
4, 65, 66 ... are established.

The fillers 70 and 80 are frame-shaped thin plates made of a heat-resistant resin, and have the same thickness as the anode 12 and the cathode 13. The dimensions of the outer circumference are equivalent to the current collectors 40 and 41, and the dimensions of the inner circumferences 70a and 80a are equivalent to the anode 12 and the cathode 13. These members, that is, the cells 10, the battery plates 20, 30 and the sealing materials 50, 60 are laminated to form the windows 24, 5
4, 14, 64, 34 constitute a cathode gas supply manifold, and windows 26, 56, 16, 66, 3
6 constitutes a cathode gas discharge manifold. The windows 25, 55, 15, 65, and 35 form a manifold for supplying anode gas, and
.. Constitute an anode gas discharge manifold.

The cathode gas supplied to the cathode gas supply manifold is distributed to a plurality of cathode gas channels 31 and used by the cathode 13 for power generation, and then discharged from the cathode gas discharge manifold. . On the other hand, the anode gas supplied to the anode gas supply manifold includes a plurality of anode gas channels 2.
After being distributed to 1 and being used for power generation at the anode 12,
The anode gas is discharged from a manifold for discharging the gas.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a cross section of the fuel cell 1 shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line XX. As shown in the figure, the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane 11 is
Between the battery plates 20 and 30 and the outer peripheral portions of the battery plates 20 and 30 and the ion exchange membrane 1.
1 are sealed with sealing materials 50 and 60. In addition, the current collector 40 has just fit inside the inner circumference 50 a of the sealing material 50, and the current collector 41 has just fit inside the inner circumference 60 a of the sealing material 60.

The filler 70 fills the space between the current collector 40 and the ion exchange membrane 11 in a range between the outer periphery 12 a of the anode 12 and the inner periphery 50 a of the sealing material 50,
0 is a range between the outer circumference 13a of the cathode 13 and the inner circumference 60a of the sealing material 60, and the current collector 41 and the ion exchange membrane 11
And filling between. As described above, the ion exchange membrane 11 is filled with the filler 7 in a range between the outer circumferences 12 a and 13 a of the anode 12 and the cathode 13 and the inner circumference 50 a of the sealing material 50.
Since the ion-exchange membrane 11 is pressed from both sides by 0, 80, the ion-exchange membrane 11 does not deform or break due to the differential pressure, and even when the ion-exchange membrane 11 dries, the membrane is damaged by shrinkage. Is unlikely to occur.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of Reference Example 1 was
It can be manufactured as follows. The cell 10 can be manufactured by bringing the materials of the anode 12 and the cathode 13 into close contact with the ion exchange membrane 11 by hot pressing.
The battery plates 20 and 30 can be manufactured by cutting a carbon plate. Current collectors 40, 41,
The materials of the sealing materials 50 and 60 and the fillers 70 and 80 can be manufactured by cutting each material.

When assembling the battery, the cell 10 is immersed in water to keep the ion exchange membrane 11 wet. The moistening is performed because the ion exchange membrane 11 swells when moistened, and if the ion exchange membrane 11 is incorporated in a dry state, the ion exchange membrane 11 sags during operation. The battery plate is inserted into the cell 10 while the sealing members 50 and 60 are inserted in the outer periphery of the cell 10 and the current collectors 40 and 41 and the fillers 70 and 80 are inserted in the center of the cell 10. 20 and 30 are laminated.

As a specific procedure, the battery plate 30
Are placed with the cathode gas channels 31... Side up, a sealing material 60 is arranged on the outer periphery thereof, and the current collector 41, the material of the filler 80, and the cell 10 are sequentially aligned in the center. Laminate. Further, a sealing material 50 is laminated on the outer peripheral portion of the cell 10 in order while aligning the material of the filler 70 and the current collector 40 in the central portion.
By arranging the fuel cell 1 with the anode gas channels 21... Facing down, the stack of the fuel cell 1 can be assembled. However, the order of assembling the stack of the fuel cell 1 is not limited to this, and for example, the fillers 70, 8
The current collectors 40 and 41 may be stacked while inserting the zero, and the battery plate may be stacked while the sealing members 50 and 60 are inserted.

A predetermined number of the thus-assembled stacks of fuel cells 1 are stacked, and both ends thereof are fastened by a pair of end plates. At this time, with the fastening by the end plates, the battery plates 20 and 30 fasten the cell 10 via the sealing members 50 and 60, and the space between the outer peripheral portions of the battery plates 20 and 30 and the ion exchange membrane 11 is sealed. At the same time, the material of the fillers 70, 80 is also compressed, and the fillers 70, 80 are filled between the current collectors 40, 41 and the ion exchange membrane 11,
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is manufactured.

The material of the fillers 70 and 80 is well filled between the current collectors 40 and 41 and the ion exchange membrane 11 in a state where the fillers 70 and 80 are incorporated in the battery (ie, a state where they are pressurized by tightening). Set the thickness as follows. Here, if a porous material (for example, a PTFE foam sheet) that shrinks under pressure is used as a material for the fillers 70 and 80, the thickness of the material can be set to be relatively large, so that the filler 70 , 80 and handling during battery assembly is facilitated. When materials having such properties are used as the fillers 70, 80, the current collectors 40, 41
It is relatively easy to fill the gap between the gas and the ion exchange membrane 11 without any gap, and in that respect, it is also excellent as a filler.

(Reference Example 2) FIG. 3 is a view showing a fuel cell of Reference Example 2 , and a cross section is drawn similarly to FIG. Fuel cell 1 of Reference Example 1 above
In this case, the current collectors 40 and 41 are larger than the anode 12 and the cathode 13, and the inner circumference 50 of the sealing members 50 and 60.
a, 60a, but in Reference Example 2 , the current collectors 40, 41 were connected to the anode 1 as shown in FIG.
2, the same size as the cathode 13, and instead, the thickness of the fillers 70, 80 is increased,
To fill the space between the ion exchange membrane 11 and the battery plates 20 and 30. In such a fuel cell, the same effect as in the case of the fuel cell 1 of Reference Example 1 can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a modified example of the fuel cell of Reference Example 2 , and a cross section is drawn similarly to FIG.
In the above-described fuel cell 1, the cell plates 20, 30
Has sandwiched the outer peripheral portion of the ion exchange membrane 11 via the sealing members 50 and 60. In this modification, instead of the battery plates 20 and 30, the outer peripheral portion has the outer peripheral portion. The battery plates 28 and 38 on which the peripheral wall portions 29 and 39 are formed are used.
Along the outer peripheral surfaces 29a, 39a of the battery 39, the battery plate 2
Frame-shaped sealing materials 51 and 61 are fitted between the ion exchange membranes 8 and 38 and the ion exchange membrane 11. In this fuel cell, each manifold is formed at four corners of the peripheral wall portions 29 and 39, and no windows for the manifold are opened in the seal members 51 and 61.

In the fuel cell of this embodiment, the fillers 70, 80
Is filled between the ion exchange membrane 11 and the current collectors 40 and 41 in a range between the anode 12 and the cathode 13 and the peripheral wall portions 26 and 36. In such a fuel cell, as in the case of the fuel cell 1, the ion exchange membrane 11 is used.
Deformation and damage are prevented.

Embodiment 1 The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of this embodiment has the same configuration as the fuel cell 1 of Reference Example 1 , but the fuel cell 1 has a sealing material 5.
The difference is that the seal members 50 and 60 and the ion exchange membrane 11 are hot-pressed and joined in the present embodiment, whereas the ion exchange membranes 11 and 0 are only pressed into contact with each other. .

In this embodiment, the sealing members 50 and 60 are used.
Further, in order to have a function as a holding frame body for holding the cell 10 in a predetermined shape together with a function as a sealing material, a material having elasticity and appropriate rigidity is used as a material of the sealing materials 50 and 60. Have been. Sealing materials 50 and 6 in this case
Examples of the material of No. 0 include the above-mentioned heat-resistant polymer, or a material in which glass fiber, synthetic fiber, cellulose fiber, or the like is filled to increase rigidity.

Hereinafter, the unit in which the cell is joined to the holding frame body to be integrated will be referred to as a cell unit. In the method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present embodiment, first, the cell 10 is immersed in water to make the ion exchange membrane 11 wet, sealing materials 50 and 60 are laminated thereon, and hot pressing (temperature 100 to 200). ° C, pressure 50-200kg
/ Cm ² ) to form a cell unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cell unit. As shown in the figure, in this cell unit, frame-shaped sealing materials 50 and 60 are joined to the outer periphery of the cell 10 to hold the cell 10. Therefore, the ion exchange membrane 11
The cell 10 retains its original shape even if the cell 10 dries and contracts. The cell unit thus manufactured and the battery plates 20 and 30 are connected to the current collector 4.
By stacking while interposing the materials of 0 and 41 and the fillers 70 and 80, a fuel cell stack of a basic unit can be assembled.

Then, in the same manner as in Reference Example 1 , a predetermined number of the assembled laminates are laminated, and both ends thereof are tightened with a pair of end plates, whereby a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is manufactured. According to this manufacturing method, when assembling the battery,
The workability at the time of assembly is excellent because the cell 10 can be handled not as a single unit but as a cell unit having a fixed shape.

The workability during assembly is also improved in that the ion exchange membrane 11 does not need to be wetted during assembly and the cell 10 is not easily deformed during assembly. In particular, when the number of stacked fuel cells 1 is large, it takes a long time to stack the fuel cells 1, and the ion exchange membrane 11 dries during assembly, and contraction force is likely to be generated in the cells 10. Can be prevented from being deformed.

In this embodiment, the sealing members 50 and 60 are used.
Although the example which also serves as the holding frame body which holds the cell 10 was shown,
The cell unit may be manufactured by holding the cell 10 with a holding frame separate from the sealing material. For example, in the cell unit shown in FIG. 5, instead of the sealing materials 50 and 60, a cell unit is manufactured using a frame made of a highly rigid material such as metal, carbon, and ceramic, and the frame is formed. It is also possible to assemble the fuel cell by stacking another sealing material on the fuel cell, and in this case, the same effect can be obtained.

(Reference Example 3) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a basic unit of a fuel cell according to Reference Example 3 , and a cross section is drawn as in FIG. In addition, about the same component as the fuel cell 1 of the reference example 1 ,
The same reference numerals are given in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted. Reference example
The fuel cell 101 of No. 3 has the same configuration as the fuel cell 1 of Reference Example 1. However, in the fuel cell 1, the sealing material 50 and the filling material 70 and the sealing material 60 and the filling material 80 are separately formed. On the other hand, the fuel cell 101 is different in that the seal filler 150 and the seal filler 160 in which the sealant and the filler are integrated are used.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seal filler 150, and a hatched portion in the figure indicates a cross section along the line XX. In the seal filler 150, as shown in the figure, a filler 152 having a function as a filler is formed inside a seal part 151 having a function as a sealant. The sealing portion 151 and the filling portion 152 have the same shape as the sealing material 50 and the filling material 70 of Reference Example 1 , and the outer periphery 12a of the anode 12 is just stored inside the filling portion 152 as shown in FIG. It has become so.

The seal filler 160 is the same as the seal filler 150, and has the same seal 161 as the seal 151 and the same filler 162 as the seal 152.
Is formed, and the outer periphery 13 a of the cathode 13 is
It is designed to be stored just inside. As a material of the seal fillers 150 and 160, the seal portions 151 and 1 are used.
61 is made of a resilient material,
For 162, a material having flexibility and some elasticity is suitable. In that respect, the sealing parts 151 and 161 and the filling part 1
52 and 162 are preferably made of different materials, but the whole may be made of a single material having both elasticity and flexibility.

In the fuel cell 101, the filling portions 152 and 162 of the seal filling materials 150 and 160 are formed along the outer circumferences 12 a and 13 a of the anode 12 and the cathode 13 similarly to the filling materials 70 and 80 of the fuel cell 1. Since the space between the ion exchange membrane 11 and the current collectors 40 and 41 is filled and the ion exchange membrane 11 is pressed and held, deformation and breakage of the ion exchange membrane 11 are prevented.

The method of manufacturing the fuel cell 101 is as follows. First, the cell plate 30 is placed with the cathode gas channel 31... Side facing upward, the current collector 41 is disposed at the center thereof, and the seal filler 160 is placed thereon. Thereafter, the cell 10 is placed. Furthermore,
By laminating the seal filler 150 on the outer peripheral portion of the cell 10 and the current collector 40 on the central portion in order, and disposing the battery plate 20 thereon, the laminated body can be assembled. It is produced by tightening as in Example 1.

[0052] Here, since the filler and the sealing material are integrated, both alignment is unnecessary, Reference Example 1
Is easier to assemble than the case of Reference Example 3
In the fuel cell 101 described above, similarly to the first embodiment , the seal fillers 150 and 160 can be joined to the cell 10 to produce a cell unit, or the cell unit can be produced using a separate holding frame. In this case, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained at the time of assembling the battery.

Example 2 FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a basic unit of a fuel cell according to this example, and a cross section is drawn as in FIG. In addition, about the same component as the fuel cell 1 of the reference example 1 ,
The same reference numerals are given in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted. The fuel cell 201 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the fuel cell 1 according to the reference example 1 , but the fuel cell 1 includes the current collector 40 and the filler 7.
In contrast, the fuel cell 201 includes a current collector 140 and a current collector 141 that also function as a filler, whereas the current collector 41 and the filler 80 are formed separately. Is different.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the current collector 141,
The hatched portion in the figure indicates a cross section along the line XX.
The current collector 141 is made of the same material as that of the current collector 41 of Reference Example 1 and has substantially the same shape, but as shown in the figure, its outer peripheral end has a filling portion 141 thicker than the central portion 141a.
The difference is that b is formed. Central part 141a
Have the same dimensions as the cathode 13 and the filling portion 141b
Is formed to be as thick as the thickness of the cathode 13, and the cathode 13 is exactly accommodated in the central portion 141a as shown in FIG.

The width of the filling portion 141b is equal to that of the filling material 80 of the reference example , and the thickness thereof is the same as that of the current collector 41 and the filling material 80.
It corresponds to the sum of the thicknesses. As shown in FIG. 8, the current collector 140 is the same as the current collector 141, and includes a central portion 140a similar to the central portion 141a, and a filling portion 140b similar to the filling portion 140b, The anode 12 is exactly accommodated in the central portion 141a.

In this fuel cell 201, the filling section 1
Reference numerals 42 and 143 denote outer circumferences 12 a and 13 of the anode 12 and the cathode 13, similarly to the fillers 70 and 80 of the fuel cell 1.
Since the space between the ion exchange membrane 11 and the battery plates 20 and 30 is filled between the a and the sealing materials 50 and 60, and the ion exchange membrane 11 is pressed and held, the ion exchange membrane 11
Deformation and damage are prevented.

The fuel cell 201 has a battery plate 30
Are placed with the cathode gas channels 31... Facing upward, a sealing material 60 is provided on the outer peripheral portion, and a current collector 141 is provided on the central portion.
Is placed, and then the cell 10 is placed. Further, the cell 1
Sealing material 50 to the outer periphery of the 0, stacking the collector 140 in the central portion, by placing the battery plate 20 from above, it is possible to assemble the stack, then, Reference Example 1
It is produced by tightening in the same manner as described above.

[0058] Here, since the current collector 140, 141 in the current collector and the filler are integrated, there is no need to align the current collector and the filler when the battery is assembled, Reference Example 1 Is easier to assemble than the fuel cell 1 of the first embodiment. In the fuel cell 201 according to the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment , a cell unit is manufactured by bonding the seal fillers 150 and 160 to the cell 10, or the cell unit is formed using a separate holding frame. In this case, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained at the time of assembling the battery.

(Comparative Example) FIG. 10 is a view showing the configuration of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to this comparative example. The fuel cell 301 has a filling material 7
Except that 0 and 80 are not provided, the fuel cell 1 has the same configuration as the fuel cell 1 of the reference example , and includes a cell 310 in which an anode 312 and a cathode 313 are arranged on an ion exchange membrane 311 and a plurality of anode gas channels 321. The battery plate 320 having the formed battery plate 320 and the plurality of cathode gas channels 331.
0, 341 and sealing materials 350, 360.

In this fuel cell 301, the anode 31
2. In the range between the outer circumferences 312a, 313a of the cathode 313 and the sealing materials 350, 360, the ion exchange membrane 311
The gaps 390 and 391 corresponding to the thickness of the anode 312 and the cathode 313 are formed between the current collectors 340 and 341. Therefore, when a differential pressure between the anode gas and the cathode gas is applied to the ion exchange membrane 311 or when the ion exchange membrane 311 is dried and contracted, the ion exchange membrane 311 is deformed at the gaps 390 and 391. And breakage easily occur.

(Other Matters) In the first and second embodiments and the second and third embodiments, the example in which each battery plate is integrally formed is described. However, a battery plate manufactured by combining a plurality of members is used. Can be similarly implemented. Examples 1 and 2 and Reference Example
In Examples 2 and 3, the example of the fuel cell using the cell plate having the gas channel formed on one side is shown. However, the same can be applied to the fuel cell using the bipolar plate having the gas channel formed on both sides. Can be.

In Examples 1 and 2 and Reference Examples 2 and 3,
, An example of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the internal manifold type, can also be carried out in the same manner in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the external manifold type.

[0063]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the ion exchange membrane from being deformed or damaged in the stacked polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Therefore, this is a valuable technology for developing a long-life polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Further, according to the method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having such characteristics can be easily manufactured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a basic unit of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to Reference Example 1 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the fuel cell 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line XX.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a fuel cell according to Reference Example 2 .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the fuel cell of Reference Example 2 .

FIG. 5 is a view of a cell to which a sealing material according to the first embodiment is joined.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a basic unit of a fuel cell according to Reference Example 3 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a seal filler according to Reference Example 3 .

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a basic unit of a fuel cell according to a second embodiment .

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a current collector according to a second embodiment .

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell 10 Cell 11 Ion exchange membrane 12 Anode 13 Cathode 20, 30 Battery plate 21 Anode gas channel 31 Cathode gas channel 40, 41 Current collector 50, 60 Sealing material 70, 80 Filler 101 Fuel cell 140, 141 Current collection Body 150, 160 Seal filler 201 Fuel cell

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Koji Nishio 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-6-96783 (JP, A) JP-A-7-220742 (JP, A) JP-A-7-65847 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01M 8/02, 8/10

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cell having a pair of electrodes disposed in the center of an ion exchange membrane sandwiched between a pair of battery plates provided with gas channels opposed to the electrodes, and the center of the cell. And a battery plate, wherein a pair of current collectors is interposed, and a seal portion is provided between an outer peripheral portion of the cell and the pair of battery plates. In the body, between the outer periphery of the electrode and the seal portion, an outer peripheral end portion that also serves as a filler made of a porous material that contracts by pressurization, filling a gap between the ion exchange membrane and the battery plate. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell, characterized in that: 2. A pair of electrodes is provided at the center of the ion exchange membrane.
Gas cell is provided facing the electrode.
Between the pair of battery plates
A pair of current collectors is located between the center of the cell and the battery plate.
Is inserted, and the outer peripheral portion of the cell and a pair of battery plates
A solid polymer fuel cell with a seal
In the pond, between the outer periphery of the electrode and the seal portion, ion exchange
By applying pressure, filling the gap between the membrane and the battery plate
A filling material made of a porous material that contracts and is provided, and the sealing portion holds the cell in a predetermined shape.
It also has the function of a holding frame
Solid, characterized in that it is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the-exchange membrane
Polymer fuel cell. 3. A pair of electrodes is provided at the center of the ion exchange membrane.
Gas cell is provided facing the electrode.
Between the pair of battery plates
A pair of current collectors is located between the center of the cell and the battery plate.
Is inserted, and the outer peripheral portion of the cell and a pair of battery plates
A solid polymer fuel cell with a seal
In the pond, between the outer periphery of the electrode and the seal portion, ion exchange
By applying pressure, filling the gap between the membrane and the battery plate
A filler made of a porous material that shrinks and is provided, and the cell is provided with a predetermined shape on an outer peripheral portion of the ion exchange membrane.
The holding frame for holding in the shape of
JP said sealing portion is superimposed on the lifting for frame
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 4. The solid height according to claim 1, wherein the material of the filler is a material that is compressed when the battery plate is pressurized by a pressure sandwiching the battery plate. Molecular fuel cell. 5. A pair of electrodes is provided at the center of the ion exchange membrane.
Gas cell is provided facing the electrode.
And is sandwiched between a pair of battery plates, and
A pair of current collectors between the cell center and the battery plate
A body is inserted, and an outer peripheral portion of the cell and a pair of battery plates
Between the outer periphery of the electrode and the
Between the seal part, the ion exchange membrane and the battery plate
Solids provided with a porous filler filling the gaps between
A method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein the sealing portion includes a holding frame for holding the cell in a predetermined shape.
It has a function as a body and the ion
The pair of current collectors are joined to the outer peripheral portion of the exchange membrane, and the pair of current collectors and the material of the filler are interposed therebetween.
And a stacking step for holding the cell between a pair of battery plates.
And after the laminating step, compress the material of the filler to
While filling the space on the on-exchange membrane without gaps,
While tightening the pond plate, the cell and a pair of battery
This and a step tightening of sealing an outer peripheral portion of the over bets
A method for producing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 6. A pair of electrodes is provided at a central portion of the ion exchange membrane.
Gas cell is provided facing the electrode.
And is sandwiched between a pair of battery plates, and
A pair of current collectors between the cell center and the battery plate
A body is inserted, and an outer peripheral portion of the cell and a pair of battery plates
Between the outer periphery of the electrode and the
Between the seal part, the ion exchange membrane and the battery plate
Solids provided with a porous filler filling the gaps between
A method for producing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, The holding frame for holding the cell in a predetermined shape is
Insert between the exchange membrane and the seal,
Forming a frame to be joined to the outer periphery of the exchange membrane, After the frame forming step, the pair of current collectors and
The cell is inserted into a pair of battery plates while
A laminating step of sandwiching between After the laminating step, the material of the filler is compressed to
While filling the space on the on-exchange membrane without gaps,
While tightening the pond plate, the cell and a pair of battery
Tightening step to seal the outer periphery of the sheet.
To A method for producing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising: