# US 2014/0234749 A1 · Electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with resin frame for fuel cells

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- Number: US 2014/0234749 A1
- Document ID: US20140234749A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/346,377
- Filed: 2012-09-06
- Published: 2014-08-21
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-22
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yukihito Tanaka; Kazuo Nunukawa; Hiroshi Sohma; Kenichi Tanaka; Naoki Mitsuta; Masashi Sugishita; Daisuke Okonogi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140234749A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/0267: having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
- H01M 8/0271: Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
- H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
- H01M 8/0276: Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/0286: Processes for forming seals
- H01M 8/0284: Organic resins; Organic polymers
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- 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

An electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame is provided with: an electrolyte membrane-electrode structure that is provided with an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode, with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane being held therebetween; and a resin frame member that is arranged around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An intermediate layer is continuously arranged: between an outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode and a first inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member; on an outer peripheral end portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said outer peripheral end portion being exposed outside the outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode; and between an outer peripheral end portion of the anode-side electrode and a second inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly comprising:
a membrane electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, each of the first electrode and the second electrode including an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, the first electrode having an outer size smaller than that of the second electrode; and
a resin frame member provided around an outer end of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane,
wherein an intermediate layer is provided between an outer end of the first electrode and an inner end of the resin frame member, at an outer marginal portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane exposed from the outer end of the first electrode to outside, and between an outer end of the second electrode and an inner end of the resin frame member, in a contiguous manner.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is made of material different from that of the resin frame member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein an outer end marginal portion of at least one of the gas diffusion layers is impregnated with same material composition as that of the intermediate layer to form an impregnation layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gas diffusion layer is impregnated with the impregnation layer at a pore filling rate of 85% or more.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein a first gap is formed between one end of the intermediate layer, the outer end of the first electrode, and the inner end of the resin frame member;
a second gap is formed between another end of the intermediate layer, the outer end of the second electrode, and the inner end of the resin frame member;
a first projection provided integrally with or separately from the resin frame member is melted to form a first resin impregnation portion in the first gap; and
a second projection provided integrally with or separately from the resin frame member is melted to form a second resin impregnation portion in the second gap.