Method for activating fuel cell

A method for activating a fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane containing a solid polymer,

• the method comprising the step of sweeping a potential of the fuel cell to obtain a cyclic voltammogram,
• wherein
• the potential sweeping is continued until:
• the number of oxidation peaks within a range of 0.1 to 0.3 V increases from one to two, and the two oxidation peaks satisfy the inequalities of I1/I3≧1.2 and I2/I3≧1.2 where I1 and I2 are current values of the two oxidation peaks, respectively, and I3 is the minimum current value between the two oxidation peaks;
• and
• thereafter, an oxidation peak within a range of 0.4 to 0.7 V decreases, and accordingly a charge amount corresponding to the oxidation peak decreases to 20 mC or less.

A method for activating a fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane containing a solid polymer,

• the method comprising the step of sweeping a potential of the fuel cell to obtain a cyclic voltammogram,
• wherein
• the potential sweeping is continued until:
• an oxidation peak within a range of 0.4 to 0.7 V decreases, and accordingly a charge amount corresponding to the oxidation peak decreases to 20 mC or less.

A method for activating a fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane containing a solid polymer,

• the method comprising the step of sweeping a potential of the fuel cell to obtain a cyclic voltammogram,
• wherein
• the potential sweeping is continued until:
• a ratio of I5/I4 increases from less than 1 to 1 where I4 is a current value of a reduction peak within a range of 0.6 to 0.7 V, and I5 is a current value of a reduction peak within a range of 0.7 to 0.8 V.

A method for activating a fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane containing a solid polymer,

• the method comprising the step of sweeping a potential of the fuel cell to obtain a cyclic voltammogram,
• wherein
• the potential sweeping is continued until:
• the number of oxidation peaks within a range of 0.1 to 0.3 V increases from one to two, and the two oxidation peaks satisfy the inequalities of I1/I3≧1.2 and I2/I3≧1.2 where I1 and I2 are current values of the two oxidation peaks, respectively, and I3 is the minimum current value between the two oxidation peaks.