Fuel cell, power supply method using fuel cell, function card, fuel supply mechanism for fuel cell, and generator and production thereof

• US 20030012999A1
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koichi, Watanabe, Yasuhiro, Yoshioka, Tetsuya, Kubota, Eigo
• Granted Patent: US 7,232,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0206 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04104 Regulation of differential pressures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04179 by purging or increasing flow or pressure of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A fuel cell having a structure capable of certainly supplying a gas by making effective use of a limited space while ensuring the portability of the fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes two generators, a fuel supply portion, and two planar current collectors. Each of the generators has a proton conductor film, and a planar hydrogen side electrode and a planar oxygen side electrode disposed with the proton conductor film held therebetween. The fuel supply portion is adapted to supply a fuel to the hydrogen side electrodes of the generators. The planar current collectors, which are disposed in close-contact with the oxygen side electrodes of the generators, have gas transmission portions such as opening portions allowing the oxygen side electrodes to be opened to atmosphere. Since the oxygen side electrodes are opened to atmosphere, oxygen can be supplied to the generators without lowering a partial pressure of oxygen in air.

Claims

1. A fuel cell comprising:

a substantially flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in a portion of said housing;

a substantially flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing, said generator including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode; and

an air flow inducing member for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing member, said air flow inducing member being disposed inside said housing.

2. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said air flow inducing member is a rotator.

3. A fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein a principal plane of said generator has an approximately rectangular shape, and said rotator is disposed along an approximately linear end portion of said approximately rectangular generator.

4. A fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein a rotational axis of said rotator extends in the same direction as that of a plane of said substantially flat-plate shaped generator.

5. A fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein said rotator has vane portions positioned around a periphery of said rotator.

6. A fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein said vane portions extend substantially radially from the rotational axis side.

7. A fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein said vane portions are disposed substantially spirally around the rotational axis.

8. A fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein said rotator is operated by a motor.

9. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said air flow inducing member is a pump for generating a pressure difference of air between portions thereof, thereby inducing flow of air therebetween.

10. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said air flow inducing member is disposed with a longitudinal direction extending within a principal plane of said substantially flat-plate shaped housing.

11. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed into a substantially rectangular shape, and said air flow inducing member is formed along an inner side surface of said substantially rectangular housing.

12. A fuel cell according to claim 11, wherein said air flow inducing member extends along the longitudinal direction of said housing.

14. A fuel cell according to claim 13, wherein said air passage is a groove portion provided inside said housing so as to extend along a plane of said oxygen side electrode.

15. A fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein said groove portion is composed of a plurality of grooves extending substantially in parallel to each other.

17. A fuel cell according to claim 16, wherein said air flow inducing member is a rotating body.

18. A fuel cell according to claim 17, wherein a rotational axis of said rotating body extends in the same direction as that of a plane of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator.

19. A fuel cell according to claim 17, wherein a principal plane of said generator has an approximately rectangular shape, and said rotating body is disposed along an approximately linear end portion of said approximately rectangular generator.

20. A fuel cell according to claim 17, wherein said rotating body is composed of at least two rotators disposed on opposed end sides of said rectangular generator such that one of said rotators is adapted to guide air to one of said oxygen side electrodes and the other of said rotators is adapted to guide air to the other of said oxygen side electrodes.

21. A fuel cell according to claim 17, wherein said rotator has vane portions positioned around a periphery of said rotator.

22. A fuel cell according to claim 21, wherein said vane portions extend substantially radially from the rotational axis side.

23. A fuel cell according to claim 21, wherein said vane portions are disposed substantially spirally around the rotational axis.

24. A fuel cell according to claim 17, wherein said rotator is driven by a motor.

25. A fuel cell according to claim 16, wherein said air flow inducing member is a pump for generating a pressure difference of air between one and another portions, thereby inducing the flow of air therebetween.

26. A fuel cell according to claim 16, wherein said air passage is composed of groove portions each provided inside said housing in such a manner as to extend along the plane of each of said oxygen side electrodes of said generators.

27. A fuel cell according to claim 26, wherein each of said groove portions is composed of a plurality of grooves extending in parallel to each other.

28. A fuel cell according to claim 16, wherein said housing is formed into an approximately rectangular shape, and said air flow inducing means extends along an inner side surface of said approximately rectangular housing.

29. A fuel cell according to claim 28, wherein said air flow inducing means extends along the longitudinal direction of said housing.

30. A fuel cell according to claim 16, wherein a principal plane of said generator has an approximately rectangular shape, and said air flow inducing member is composed of air flow inducing portions disposed on opposed end sides of said approximately rectangular generator in such a manner that one of said air flow inducing portions is adapted to guide air to one of said oxygen side electrodes and the other of said air flow inducing portions is adapted to guide air to the other of said oxygen side electrodes;

said air passage is composed of groove portions each provided inside said housing in such a manner as to extend along the plane of each of said pair of oxygen side electrodes of said generators; and

each of said groove portions is communicated to a corresponding one of said air flow inducing portions.

31. A fuel cell according to claim 30, wherein each of said air flow inducing portions is a rotor.

32. A fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein a rotational axis of said rotator extends in the same direction as that of a plane of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator.

33. A fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said rotator has vane portions provided around the periphery of said rotator.

34. A fuel cell according to claim 33, wherein said vane portions extend substantially radially from the rotational axis side.

35. A fuel cell according to claim 33, wherein said vane portions are disposed substantially spirally around the rotational axis.

36. A fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said rotator is driven by a motor.

37. A fuel cell according to claim 30, wherein each of said air flow inducing portions is a pump for generating a pressure difference of air between one and another portions, thereby inducing the flow of air therebetween.

38. A fuel cell according to claim 30, wherein said housing is formed into an approximately rectangular shape, and each of said air flow inducing portions is formed in such a manner as to extend along an inner side surface of said approximately rectangular housing.

39. A fuel cell according to claim 38, wherein

each of said air flow inducing portions extends along the longitudinal direction of said housing.

13. A fuel cell comprising:

an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing;

an approximately flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing, said generator including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode;

air flow inducing means for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing means, said air flow inducing means being disposed inside said housing; and

an air passage for guiding the air, which has been led inside said housing by said air flow inducing means, along a plane of said oxygen side electrode of said generator.

16. A fuel cell comprising:

an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing;

two approximately flat-plate shaped generators disposed in said housing, each of said generators including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode;

an air flow inducing member for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing member, said air flow inducing member being disposed inside said housing;

an air passage for guiding air directed inside said housing by said air flow inducing member, along planes of said oxygen side electrodes of said generators; and

a fuel passage for guiding fuel to said fuel side electrodes of said generators;

wherein said two generators are disposed in such a manner that said fuel passage is held between said fuel side electrodes of said generators.

40. A fan mounted on a fuel cell, the fuel cell comprising an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing, and an approximately flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing and including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode,

wherein said fan is disposed in said housing in such a manner as to be located within a same plane as a plane of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator with a rotational axis thereof extending in a same direction as that of the plane of said generator.

41. A fuel cell comprising:

an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing;

an approximately flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing, said generator including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode;

an air flow inducing member for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing member, said air flow inducing member being disposed inside said housing; and

a controller for controlling the flow amount of air induced by said air flow inducing member.

42. A fuel cell according to claim 41, wherein said control member includes an electronic part mounted on an approximately flat-plate shaped wiring board.

43. A fuel cell comprising:

an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing;

an approximately flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing, said generator including a fuel side electrode, an oxygen side electrode having an air inlet portion formed in part of said oxygen side electrode, and an electrolyte film interposed therebetween;

air flow inducing means for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing means, said air flow inducing means being disposed inside said housing at a position facing to said opening portion; and

an air passage for guiding air, directed inside said housing by said air flow inducing means, along a plane of said oxygen side electrode of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator;

wherein a portion of said air passage is communicated to said air inlet of said oxygen side electrode and the remaining part of said air passage extends over a region, excluding said air inlet, of said oxygen side electrode.

44. A fuel cell according to claim 43, wherein the portion of said air passage, which is communicated to said air inlet of said oxygen side electrode, is composed of grooves for removing moisture generated on said oxygen side electrode, and a remaining portion of said air passage, which extends over a region, excluding said air inlet, of said oxygen side electrode, is composed of grooves for adjusting the temperature of said generator.

45. A fuel cell according to claim 44, wherein said grooves for removal of moisture and said grooves for temperature adjustment alternatively are disposed along the surface of said oxygen side electrode in such a manner as to be substantially parallel to each other.

46. A fuel cell according to claim 45, wherein said grooves for removal of moisture and said grooves for temperature adjustment are provided by forming projections and depressions formed inside said housing.

47. A fuel cell according to claim 43, further comprising a controller for controlling the flow amount of air induced by said air flow inducing member, said controller being disposed adjacent to said air passage.

49. A power supply method using a fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said air flow inducing member is a rotator.

50. A power supply method using a fuel cell according to claim 49, wherein a rotational axis of said rotator extends in a same direction as that of a plane of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator.

51. A power supply method using a fuel cell according to claim 49, wherein a principal plane of said generator has an approximately rectangular shape, and said rotator is disposed along an approximately linear end portion of said approximately rectangular generator.

52. A power supply method using a fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said air passage is a groove portion formed inside said housing in such a manner as to extend along a plane of said oxygen side electrode.

53. A power supply method using a fuel cell according to claim 52, wherein said groove portion includes a plurality of grooves extending in parallel to each other.

48. A power supply method using a fuel cell including an approximately flat-plate shaped housing, a generator disposed in said housing and including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode, air flow inducing member provided inside said housing, and an air passage for guiding the flow of air induced by said air flow inducing member, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying a fuel fluid to said generator;

leading air inside said housing through an opening portion formed in part of said housing by said air flow inducing member; and

guiding the air along a plane of said oxygen side electrode of said generator by using said air passage.

54. A fuel cell comprising:

a proton conductor film;

a planar fuel side electrode and a planar oxygen side electrode disposed with said proton conductor film placed therebetween;

a fuel supply for supplying fuel to said fuel side electrode; and

a planar current collector having a gas transmission portion formed so as to allow said oxygen side electrode to be opened to atmosphere therethrough, said planar current collector being disposed in close contact with said oxygen side electrode.

55. A fuel cell according to claim 54, wherein said fuel supply supplies fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methanol.

56. A fuel cell according to claim 54, wherein said gas transmission portion is an opening portion formed by partially cutting out said current collector.

57. A fuel cell according to claim 56, wherein said opening portion is composed of a plurality of openings.

58. A fuel cell according to claim 54, wherein said fuel supply means has a pair of planar fuel side current collectors opposed to each other with an insulating film having a fuel passage for said fuel cell placed therebetween.

60. A fuel cell according to claim 59, wherein said gas transmission portion of the current collector is an opening portion formed by partially cutting out said current collector, and said gas inlet portion of said housing is formed by partially cutting out said housing.

61. A fuel cell according to claim 60, wherein said opening formed by partially cutting out said current collector substantially has a same planar shape as that of said opening portion formed by partially cutting out said housing.

59. A fuel cell comprising:

a proton conductor film;

a planar fuel side electrode and a planar oxygen side electrode disposed with said proton conductor film put therebetween;

a fuel supply for supplying fuel to said fuel side electrode;

a planar current collector having a gas transmission portion formed so as to allow said oxygen side electrode to be opened to atmosphere therethrough, said planar current collector being disposed in close-contact with said oxygen side electrode; and

a housing having a gas inlet portion formed outside said oxygen side current collector in such a manner as to be communicated to said transmission portion.

62. A fuel cell comprising:

an approximately flat-plate shaped housing including a front surface portion having a gas inlet portion and a back surface portion having a gas inlet portion;

a pair of generators disposed in said housing in such a manner that the front surface of one of said generators is opposed to the back surface of the other of said generators;

a fuel supply for supplying fuel to said generators, said fuel supply means being held between said pair of generators; and

a plurality of planar oxygen side current collectors each having a gas transmission portion communicated to said gas inlet portion for allowing part of each of said generators to be opened to atmosphere, each of said oxygen side current collectors being disposed between each of said front surface portion and said back surface portion of said housing and one of said generators.

63. A fuel cell according to claim 62, wherein said generator includes a proton conductor film, and a planar fuel side electrode and a planar oxygen side electrode disposed with said proton conductor film placed therebetween.

64. A fuel cell according to claim 62, wherein an insulating film is formed between each of said front surface portion and said back surface portion of said housing and one of said oxygen side current collectors.

65. A fuel cell according to claim 64, wherein said gas transmission portion of said current collector is an opening portion formed by partially cutting out said current collector, said insulating film has an opening portion formed by partially cutting out said insulating film, and said gas inlet portion is an opening portion formed by partially cutting out said housing.

66. A fuel cell according to claim 64, wherein said opening portions formed in said current collector, said insulating film, and said housing substantially have a substantially same planar shape.

67. A fuel cell according to claim 62, wherein said housing includes a PC card size.

69. A function card according to claim 68, wherein when said function card is mounted to said main body, a fuel storage portion is removably mounted to a region, opposite to said main body, of said housing of said function card.

70. A function card according to claim 68, further comprising:

a connector portion to be locked with a connector portion formed on a bottom portion of said card slot of said main body when said function card is inserted in said main body;

wherein a power is capable of being outputted through said connector portion of said function card.

71. A function card according to claim 70, wherein information on power generation is inputted or outputted in or from said connector portion of said function card.

72. A function card according to claim 68, wherein when said function card is mounted to said main body, a power generated by said function card is taken out from part, facing to said main body, of said housing of said function card.

73. A function card according to claim 68, wherein said function card is formed into a size standardized under a JEIDA/PCMCIA standard.

74. A function card according to claim 68, wherein said function card has the same size as that of Type I standardized under a JEIDA/PCMCIA standard, and a combined body of said function card and a fuel gas storage portion mounted to said function card has the same size as that of Type II standardized under the JEIDA/PCMCIA standard.

68. A function card inserted in a card slot provided in an apparatus and mounted to a main body of the apparatus, the function card comprising:

a generator including a proton conductor film, and an oxygen side electrode and a hydrogen side electrode opposed to each other with said proton conductor film put therebetween, said generator being disposed in a housing of said function card;

wherein power is generated by taking oxygen from a gas inlet portion formed in said housing to said oxygen side electrode in an atmosphere open state and supplying fuel selected from the group consisting of a fuel gas and a fuel liquid to said generator.

75. A function card inserted in a card slot provided in a peripheral device selectively mountable to an apparatus main body and mounted to said peripheral device, comprising:

a generator including a proton conductor film, and an oxygen side electrode and a hydrogen side electrode opposed to each other with said proton conductor film put therebetween, said generator being disposed in a housing of said function card;

wherein a power is generated by taking oxygen from a gas inlet portion formed in said housing to said oxygen side electrode under atmospheric condictions and supplying any one of a fuel gas and a fuel liquid to said generator.

76. A fuel cell comprising:

a housing having a shape substantially the same as that of a recording medium removably mounted to an apparatus main body; and

a generator including a proton conductor film, and an oxygen side electrode and a hydrogen side electrode opposed to each other with said proton conductor film put therebetween, said generator being disposed in said housing of said fuel cell;

wherein a power is generated by taking oxygen from a gas inlet portion formed in said housing to said oxygen side electrode in an atmosphere open state and supplying a fuel gas or a fuel liquid to said generator.

77. A fuel cell comprising:

a pair of planar generators supported in such a manner that the front surface of one of said generators is opposed to the back surface of the other of said generators;

a pair of planar current collectors held between said generators, each of said planar current collectors having a plane, capable of being in contact with said generators, which allows a fluid selected from the group consisting of a gas and a liquid to pass therethrough; and

an insulating film having a flow passage communicated to said generators, said insulating film being formed between said pair of current collectors.

78. A fuel cell according to claim 77, wherein any one of a fuel transmissive material portion and an opening portion is provided in said contact plane of each of said current collectors, and fuel is supplied to said generators via any one of said fuel transmissive material portions and said opening portions of said current collectors.

79. A fuel cell according to claim 77, wherein said insulating film is provided so as to extend around end portions of the opposed planes of said planar current collectors.

80. A fuel cell according to claim 79, wherein said insulating film has at least one flow passage formed by any one of deforming said insulating film and partially cutting out said insulating film.

81. A fuel cell according to claim 80, wherein an openable/closable valve is provided in at least a portion of said flow passage.

82. A fuel cell according to claim 77, wherein said insulating film includes a synthetic resin.

83. A fuel cell according to claim 77, wherein any one of a fuel gas and a fuel liquid is supplied to said generators via said flow passage.

84. A fuel cell according to claim 83, wherein said fuel gas is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a gas substantially containing hydrogen.

85. A fuel cell according to claim 77, wherein said generator includes a proton conductor film, and a hydrogen side electrode and an oxygen side electrode disposed with said proton conductor film placed therebetween.

86. A fuel cell according to claim 85, wherein said oxygen side electrode is opened to atmosphere.

87. A fuel cell according to claim 77, further comprising a pair of planar current collectors provided with said pair of planar generators put therebetween.

88. A fuel cell comprising:

four generators composed of a first pair of generators disposed within a same first plane and a second pair of generators disposed within a same second plane, which are supported such that a front surface of one pair of said generators are opposed to back surface of the other pair of said generators;

a pair of planar current collectors held between said generators, each of said planar current collectors having a plane, capable of being in contact with said generators, which allows a gas or a liquid to pass therethrough; and

an insulating film having a flow passage communicated to said generators, said insulating film being formed between said pair of current collectors.

89. A fuel cell according to claim 88, wherein any one of a fuel transmissive material portion and an opening portion is provided in said contact plane of each of said current collectors, and fuel is supplied to said generators via any one of said fuel transmissive material portions and said opening portions of said current collectors.

90. A fuel cell according to claim 88, wherein said insulating film is provided so as to extend around end portions of the opposed planes of said planar current collectors.

91. A fuel cell according to claim 90, wherein said insulating film has at least one flow passage formed by any one of deforming said insulating film and partially cutting out said insulating film.

92. A fuel cell according to claim 91, wherein a valve capable of being opened and closed is provided in at least a portion of said flow passage.

93. A fuel supply mechanism for a fuel cell, comprising:

a pair of planar current collectors, each having an opening portion; and

an insulating film held between said pair of current collectors;

wherein fuel is supplied to each of said opening portions of said pair of current collectors through a fuel passage formed in said insulating film.

94. A fuel supply mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 93, wherein said insulating film is provided so as to extend around end portions of the opposed planes of said planar current collectors, and said insulating film has a gas inlet portion formed by partially cutting out said insulating film.

95. A fuel supply mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 93, wherein said insulating film includes a synthetic resin.

96. A fuel supply mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 93, wherein planar generators for generating a power using fuel for said fuel cell are formed on outer surfaces of said pair of planar current collectors.

97. A fuel supply mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 93, wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a gas mainly containing hydrogen, and methanol.

98. A generator comprising:

a proton conductor film; and

a pair of planar electrodes disposed with said proton conductor film placed therebetween;

wherein a peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film is exposed from a peripheral edge of one of said planar electrodes when said one of planar electrodes is superimposed to said proton conductor film, and a seal material is provided in such a manner as to be in close-contact with said exposed peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film.

99. A generator according to claim 98, wherein said one of planar electrodes is a hydrogen side electrode, and the other of said planar electrodes is an oxygen side electrode.

100. A generator according to claim 98, wherein said seal material has a thickness larger than that of said one of planar electrodes.

101. A generator according to claim 98, wherein said proton conductor film has a planar shape being substantially the same as that of said other of planar electrodes.

102. A generator according to claim 98, wherein a planar gas transmissive current collector is brought into press-contact with both said seal material and said one of planar electrodes.

103. A fuel cell comprising:

a generator having a proton conductor film and a pair of planar electrodes disposed with said proton conductor film placed therebetween, wherein a peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film is exposed from a peripheral edge of one of said planar electrodes when said one of planar electrodes is superimposed to said proton conductor film, and a seal material is provided in such a manner as to be in close-contact with said exposed peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film; and

a planar current collector capable of supplying a fuel gas to said generator, said planar current collector being brought into press-contact with both said seal material and said one of planar electrodes.

104. A fuel cell according to claim 103, wherein said one of planar electrodes is a hydrogen side electrode, and the other of said planar electrodes is an oxygen side electrode.

105. A fuel cell according to claim 104, wherein said seal material has a thickness larger than that of said one of planar electrodes.

106. A fuel cell according to claim 104, wherein said proton conductor film has a planar shape being substantially the same as that of said other of planar electrodes.

107. A fuel cell comprising:

a pair of planar hydrogen side current collectors disposed with an insulating film having a gas passage for said fuel cell;

a pair of generators each having a proton conductor film, a pair of planar electrodes disposed with said proton conductor film placed therebetween, and a seal material, wherein one of said planar electrodes of each of said generators is brought into close-contact with the surface of one of said planar hydrogen side current collectors in a state that a peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film is exposed from a peripheral edge of said one of planar electrodes and said seal material is in close-contact with said exposed peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film; and

a pair of air side current collectors each being brought into close-contact with the other of said planar electrodes of each of said generators.

108. A fuel cell according to claim 107, wherein said one of said planar electrodes is a hydrogen side electrode and the other of said planar electrodes is an oxygen side electrode.

109. A fuel cell according to claim 107, wherein each of said pair of planar air side current collectors has a gas transmission portion to be opened to atmosphere.

110. A fuel cell according to claim 107, wherein said gas transmission portion is an opening portion formed by partially cutting out said planar air side current collector or a gas transmissive material portion.

111. A fuel cell according to claim 107, wherein said pair of planar hydrogen side current collectors, said pair of generators, and said pair of planar air side current collectors are housed in a housing having a gas inlet portion.

112. A fuel cell according to claim 111, wherein said housing has a PC card size.

113. A fuel cell according to claim 111, wherein said gas inlet portion formed in said housing is aligned to said gas transmission portions formed in said planar air side current collectors.

114. A method of producing a generator, comprising the steps of:

forming a proton conductor film and a pair of planar electrodes with said proton conductor film put therebetween in such a manner that a peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film is exposed from a peripheral edge of one of said planar electrodes when said one of planar electrodes is superimposed to said proton conductor film; and

adapting a seal material in close-contact with said exposed peripheral end portion of said proton conductor film.