Panasonic Corporation

Masato Aizawa

Hisaaki Gyoten

Akira Taomoto

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. A plurality of projections each having a height of 5 to 15 &#x3bc;m or a plurality of depressions each having a depth of 5 to 15 &#x3bc;m are formed on a surface of the electrolyte membrane, the surface being opposed to the cathode. The cathode is constituted by a catalyst layer formed to tightly contact the surface of the electrolyte membrane and having a maximum thickness that is one to three times the height of the projection or the depth of the depression. An oxygen-containing gas having a relative humidity of 10% or less is supplied to the cathode, and electric power is generated by using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Method of operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell

In order to significantly improve power generation efficiencies for the fuel cells, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising a surface with an array of a plurality of fine convex portion with a depth of not less than 3 &#x3bc;m and not more than 12 &#x3bc;m and an aspect ratio of not less than 0.4 and not more than 2.0,

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Masato Aizawa