The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2003
Akihiko Yoshida, Hirakata, JP;
Yoshihiro Hori, Ikoma, JP;
Makoto Uchida, Hirakata, JP;
Eiichi Yasumoto, Soraku-gun, JP;
Yasuo Takebe, Uji, JP;
Osamu Sakai, Moriguchi, JP;
Shinya Kosako, Kobe, JP;
Takeshi Yonamine, Mino, JP;
Masaki Yamauchi, Hirakata, JP;
Yasushi Sugawara, Higashiosaka, JP;
Junji Morita, Moriguchi, JP;
Akihiko Yoshida, Hirakata, JP;
Yoshihiro Hori, Ikoma, JP;
Makoto Uchida, Hirakata, JP;
Eiichi Yasumoto, Soraku-gun, JP;
Yasuo Takebe, Uji, JP;
Osamu Sakai, Moriguchi, JP;
Shinya Kosako, Kobe, JP;
Takeshi Yonamine, Mino, JP;
Masaki Yamauchi, Hirakata, JP;
Yasushi Sugawara, Higashiosaka, JP;
Junji Morita, Moriguchi, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
By using a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell comprising a fabric comprising a warp thread and a weft thread which are made of carbon fiber, wherein the distance X between adjacent intersections where the warp and weft threads cross each other and the thickness Y of the fabric satisfy the equation: 1.4≦X/Y≦3.5, the present invention reduces the surface asperities of the substrate and prevents a micro short-circuit resulting from the piercing of the polymer electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell by the carbon fibers of the fabric so as to improve the characteristics of the fuel cell. In order to further prevent the piercing of the polymer electrolyte membrane by the carbon fibers of the gas diffusion layer substrate, the rough surface of the carbon fabric is smoothed by: (1) applying a clamping pressure of 1 to 20 kgf/cmto the contact area between each electrode and each conductive separator plate of the fuel cell; or (2) heating the gas diffusion layer surface before the gas diffusion layer is disposed onto the polymer electrolyte membrane.