# US 2013/0157165 A1 · Polymer electrolyte fuel cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157165 A1 - Document ID: US20130157165A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/818,863 - Filed: 2012-07-25 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-02 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Inventors: Shinsuke Takeguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157165A1 ## CPC - H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds - H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) - H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant - H01M 8/0267: having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels - H01M 8/0297: Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other (H01M8/0271 takes precedence) - H01M 8/1007: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised (H01M8/12 takes precedence) - H01M 8/241: with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes - H01M 4/8605: {Porous electrodes} - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and separators (6A and 6B). Each of the electrodes (4A and 4B) includes a catalyst layer (2A, 2B) and a gas diffusion layer (3A, 3B). One main surface of the catalyst layer contacts the polymer electrolyte membrane (1). The separator (6A) includes a peripheral portion (16A) and a portion (26A) other than the peripheral portion. The peripheral portion (16A) of the separator (6A) is formed in an annular shape when viewed from a thickness direction of the separator (6A) and is a region including a portion located on an inner side of the outer periphery of the separator (6A). The separator (6A) is configured such that a porosity of the peripheral portion (16A) is higher than that of the portion (26A) other than the peripheral portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a membrane-electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of separators each formed in a plate shape and having electrical conductivity, wherein: each of the separators includes a peripheral portion and a portion other than the peripheral portion; when viewed from a thickness direction of the separator, the peripheral portion of the separator is formed in an annular shape and is a region located on an inner side of an outer periphery of the separator; and the separator is configured such that a porosity of the peripheral portion is higher than that of the portion other than the peripheral portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein: each of the electrodes includes a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion electrode layer; groove-shaped reactant gas channels and rib portions each located between the groove-shaped reactant gas channels are formed on at least one of one main surface, contacting the gas diffusion layer, of the separator and one main surface, contacting the separator, of the gas diffusion layer; and a groove-shaped water channel is formed on the other main surface of at least one of the pair of separators. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein: each of the electrodes is formed such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the electrode is located on the inner side of the outer periphery of the separator; and the peripheral portion of the separator is formed in an annular shape such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the outer periphery of the separator and the outer periphery of the electrode, and an inner periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the outer periphery of the electrode and the rib portion closest to the outer periphery of the electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein: each of the electrodes is formed such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the electrode is located on the inner side of the outer periphery of the separator; and the peripheral portion of the separator is formed in an annular shape such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between a portion located on an outer side by 5 mm from the outer periphery of the electrode and the outer periphery of the electrode, and an inner periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the outer periphery of the electrode and a portion located on the inner side by 5 mm from the outer periphery of the electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein: each of the electrodes is formed such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the electrode coincides with the outer periphery of the separator; and the peripheral portion of the separator is formed in an annular shape such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the outer periphery of the electrode and the rib portion closest to the outer periphery of the electrode, and an inner periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the rib portion closest to the outer periphery of the electrode and the rib portion second closest to the outer periphery of the electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein: each of the electrodes is formed such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the electrode coincides with the outer periphery of the separator; and the peripheral portion of the separator is formed in an annular shape such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, an outer periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the outer periphery of the electrode and a portion located on the inner side by 5 mm from the outer periphery of the electrode, and an inner periphery of the peripheral portion of the separator is located between the portion located on the inner side by 5 mm from the outer periphery of the electrode and a portion located on the inner side by 10 mm from the outer periphery of the electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the water channel is formed such that when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, a part of the water channel overlaps the peripheral portion of the separator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member, wherein: when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, the reinforcing member is provided on a peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing member is arranged such that a part of the reinforcing member contacts the other main surface of the catalyst layer and overlaps the catalyst layer when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing member is provided so as not to overlap the catalyst layer when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing member is made of resin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the separator includes a through hole formed on the peripheral portion of the separator and penetrating in the thickness direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein: each of the separators include a central portion; when viewed from the thickness direction of the separator, the central portion of the separator is a region including a portion located on the inner side of the peripheral portion of the separator; and the separator is configured such that the porosity of the peripheral portion is higher than that of the central portion by 5% or more.