MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY AND FUEL CELL USING SAME
First Claim
1. A membrane electrode assembly having, on at least either one catalyst layer of an anode catalyst layer or a cathode catalyst layer in a laminate including said anode catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane and said cathode catalyst layer in this order, a temperature responsive layer whose material permeability is reduced with temperature rise, whereinsaid temperature responsive layer is composed of a porous layer and a temperature responsive polymer material whose moisture content changes at a phase transition temperature retained inside pores of said porous layer, andsaid temperature responsive polymer material is retained only in part of pores among the pores included in said porous layer, or retained in pores in such a manner that fill density of said temperature responsive polymer material differs between one part and another part along a film thickness of said temperature responsive layer in the pores.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A membrane electrode assembly having a temperature responsive layer whose material permeability is reduced with temperature rise, on a laminate including an anode catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane and a cathode catalyst layer in this order, and a fuel cell using the same are provided. The temperature responsive layer may be composed of a porous layer containing a temperature responsive material whose moisture content changes at a phase transition temperature. It is possible to repress increase in fuel supply amount to the anode catalyst layer in association with temperature rise, and moisture evaporation from the electrolyte membrane in association with temperature rise, and to prevent excessive temperature rise and thermal runaway of the fuel cell.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A membrane electrode assembly having, on at least either one catalyst layer of an anode catalyst layer or a cathode catalyst layer in a laminate including said anode catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane and said cathode catalyst layer in this order, a temperature responsive layer whose material permeability is reduced with temperature rise, wherein
said temperature responsive layer is composed of a porous layer and a temperature responsive polymer material whose moisture content changes at a phase transition temperature retained inside pores of said porous layer, and said temperature responsive polymer material is retained only in part of pores among the pores included in said porous layer, or retained in pores in such a manner that fill density of said temperature responsive polymer material differs between one part and another part along a film thickness of said temperature responsive layer in the pores.
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Specification