Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell and electrode structure for the fuel cell

Abstract

A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell () is formed from an electrode structure () and first and second separators (). The electrode structure () has a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (), first and second electrode layers (), and first and second diffusion layers (). The first separator () forms a first gas passage (P) through which a fuel gas (H) flows, and the second separator () forms a second gas passage (P) through which an oxidizing gas (A) flows. A first jutting-out portion () of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane () and a second jutting-out portion () of the second diffusion layer () are joined together over the entire peripheries thereof via a cured adhesive layer (), and the second jutting-out portion () is in a state in which it is impregnated by cured adhesive. A seal () of the first separator () is in intimate contact with the surface of the first jutting-out portion (), and a seal () of the second separator () is in intimate contact with the surface of the second jutting-out portion (). It is therefore possible to eliminate the problem of leaked fuel gas and oxidizing gas reacting with each other around the electrode structure.