Method of manufacturing fuel cells and fuel cells manufactured by the method

• US 6,733,916 B2
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mizuno, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US09/196,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 429/30, 429/35, 429/36, 296/234
• US Class Current: 429/456
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0271 Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0284 Organic resins; Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1004 characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49114 including adhesively bonding

Abstract

The method of the present invention enhances the adhesive strength of a polymer electrolyte film via an adhesive and thereby manufactures a fuel cell having a high reliability for a gas sealing property. The method provides a pair of separators and applies an adhesive on specific areas of the separators, which are directly joined with the polymer electrolyte film. The adhesive used here is a modified rubber adhesive that is a mixture of epoxy resin and modified silicone and has a modulus of elasticity of not greater than 10 MPa and a durometer A hardness of not greater than 90 after cure. The method subsequently lays the pair of separators upon the joint body and cures the adhesive for bonding the separators directly to the polymer electrolyte film.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell comprising a layer stack of unit cells each including a polymer electrolyte film and gas diffusion electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:

causing the polymer electrolyte film to have a water content of not greater than 4, which is expressed as a molar fraction of H₂O;

providing a gas-impermeable dense carbon separator which forms a gas flow path with the surface of each diffusion electrode; and

bonding the polymer electrolyte film directly to the carbon separator with an adhesive having a modulus of elasticity of not greater than 10 MPa after cure.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of bonding the polymer electrolyte film comprises placing the adhesive having a durometer A hardness of not greater than 90 after cure.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of bonding the polymer electrolyte film comprises providing a pair of carbon separators that are arranged across a pair of gas diffusion electrodes, between which the polymer electrolyte film is interposed.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of bonding the polymer electrolyte film comprises placing the adhesive being a modified rubber adhesive comprising a mixture of epoxy resin and modified silicone.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of bonding the polymer electrolyte turn comprises placing the adhesive including resin beads of a predetermined diameter.

6. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell comprising a layer stack of unit cells each including a polymer electrolyte film and gas diffusion electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a gas-impermeable dense carbon separator which forms a gas flow path with the surface of each diffusion electrode;

providing an adhesive having a modulus of elasticity of not greater than 10 MPa after cure; and

bonding the polymer electrolyte film directly to the carbon separator with the adhesive.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of bonding the polymer electrolyte film comprises placing the adhesive having a durometer A hardness of not greater than 90 after cure.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of bonding the polymer electrolyte film comprises providing a pair of carbon separators that are arranged across a pair of gas diffusion electrodes, between which the polymer electrolyte film is interposed.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of providing the adhesive comprises providing the adhesive being a modified rubber adhesive comprising a mixture of epoxy resin and modified silicone.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the adhesive includes resin beads of a predetermined diameter.

11. A fuel cell, comprising:

a layer stack of unit cells each including a polymer electrolyte film and gas diffusion electrodes;

a gas-impermeable dense carbon separator which forms a gas flow path with the surface of each diffusion electrode; and

a polymer electrolyte film that has a water content of not greater than 4, which is expressed as a molar fraction of H₂O, and is bonded directly to the carbon separator with an adhesive having a modulus of elasticity of not greater than 10 MPa after cure.

12. A fuel cell, comprising:

a layer stack of unit cells each including a polymer electrolyte film and gas diffusion electrodes;

a gas-impermeable dense carbon separator which forms a gas flow path with the surface of each diffusion electrode; and

an adhesive that is used to bond the polymer electrolyte film directly to the carbon separator and has a modulus of elasticity of not greater than 10 MPa after cure.

13. A fuel cell, comprising:

a layer stack of unit cells each including a polymer electrolyte film and gas diffusion electrodes;

a gas-impermeable dense carbon separator which forms a gas flow path with the surface of each diffusion electrode; and

an adhesive that is used to bond the polymer electrolyte film directly to the carbon separator and has a durometer A hardness of not greater than 90 after cure.