Fuel cell and method for manufacturing electrolyte membrane for fuel cell

A fuel cell comprising:

• a hydrogen electrode for supplying hydrogen;
• an oxygen electrode for supplying oxygen;
• and
• an electrolyte membrane disposed between said hydrogen electrode and said oxygen electrode;
• wherein said electrolyte membrane includes:
• a hydrogen-permeable metal layer of hydrogen-permeable metal;
• and
• an electrolyte layer formed on the surface of said hydrogen-permeable metal layer, of material having an expansion rate during hydrogen permeation that differs significantly from that of said hydrogen-permeable metal, and divided into a plurality of sections.

A fuel cell comprising:

• a hydrogen electrode for supplying hydrogen;
• an oxygen electrode for supplying oxygen;
• and
• an electrolyte membrane disposed between said hydrogen electrode and said oxygen electrode;
• wherein said electrolyte membrane includes:
• a hydrogen-permeable metal layer of hydrogen-permeable metal;
• a retaining member disposed contacting the surface of said hydrogen-permeable metal layer, and having a plurality of holes at said contact face;
• and
• a liquid electrolyte filling said holes.

A fuel cell comprising:

• a hydrogen electrode for supplying hydrogen;
• an oxygen electrode for supplying oxygen;
• and
• an electrolyte membrane disposed between said hydrogen electrode and said oxygen electrode;
• wherein said electrolyte membrane includes:
• a hydrogen-permeable metal layer of hydrogen-permeable metal;
• and
• an electrolyte layer formed on an oxide layer that has been formed on the surface of said hydrogen-permeable metal layer, by doping with a heterogeneous element of smaller valence than said hydrogen-permeable metal.

A method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane comprising:

• (a) producing a thin film of hydrogen-permeable metal;
• (b) oxidizing one surface of said thin film to form an oxide layer;
• and
• (c) doping said oxide layer with a heterogeneous element of smaller valence than said hydrogen-permeable metal, producing a layer of a compound oxide of said hydrogen-permeable metal and the heterogeneous element.

A method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell, comprising a hydrogen-permeable metal layer and an electrolyte layer, said method comprising:

• (a) forming said hydrogen-permeable metal layer;
• (b) forming on the surface of said hydrogen-permeable metal layer a mixed layer containing a mixture of the materials forming said hydrogen-permeable metal layer and said electrolyte layer;
• and
• (c) forming said electrolyte layer on the surface of said mixed layer.

A method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell, comprising a hydrogen-permeable metal layer and an electrolyte layer, said method comprising:

• (a) forming said hydrogen-permeable metal layer;
• (b) producing an irregular pattern on the surface of said hydrogen-permeable metal layer;
• and
• (c) forming said electrolyte layer on said irregular surface, so as to mesh with said irregular pattern.

A method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell, comprising a hydrogen-permeable metal layer and an electrolyte layer, said method comprising:

• (a) forming said hydrogen-permeable metal layer;
• (b) stacking onto said hydrogen-permeable metal layer an electrolyte layer of smaller planar area than said hydrogen-permeable metal layer;
• and
• (c) furnishing a groove that penetrates through said electrolyte layer down to said hydrogen-permeable metal layer.