Cell for fuel cell, method for producing the same, and gas channel structure for fuel cell

A method for producing a cell for a fuel cell that comprises

• a membrane electrode assembly,
• gas channel structures that are laminated to both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly and form gas channels, and
• separators that are laminated to the gas channel structures and separate gases between adjacent cells, wherein
• molding of the gas channel structures comprises
• a gas channel substrate formation step of forming a gas channel substrate composed of an expanded molding formed from a metal material,
• a conductive layer formation step of forming a conductive layer of a conductor selected from the group consisting of metal materials of gold, silver, copper, platinum, rhodium, iridium and palladium on a contact portion of the gas channel substrate that contacts the membrane electrode assembly or the separator, and
• a hydrophilic layer formation step of forming a hydrophilic layer of a hydrophilic material on a gas channel surface of the gas channel substrate other than the contact portion, wherein
• the conductive layer formation step comprises bringing a surface of the gas channel substrate into contact with a roller that lifts up the plating liquid, to perform partial plating to form a conductor only on the contact portion of a surface layer of the gas channel substrate,
• the hydrophilic layer formation step comprises subjecting the gas channel substrate on which the conductive layer is formed, to a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere to form a metal oxide on the gas channel surface other than the contact portion on which the conductive layer is formed,
• the expanded molding is formed from titanium,
• the plating is cold plating, and
• the metal oxide is titanium oxide.