Fuel cell including frame member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11018363-B2
Application number	US-201816154277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2018
Priority date	Oct 11, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A fuel cell includes: a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; a separator positioned in one side with respect to the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member supporting the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly and joined to the separator, wherein the frame member includes: a base layer; an adhesive layer having thermoplasticity, having a linear expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and joining the base layer and the separator; and a coating, layer provided on a side, opposite to the adhesive layer, of the base layer, having a liner expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and not containing an adhesive component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell comprising:
a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly;
a separator positioned in one side with respect to the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly;
a frame member supporting the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly and joined to the separator,
wherein the frame member includes:
a base layer;
an adhesive layer having thermoplasticity, having a linear expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and joining the base layer and the separator; and
a coating layer provided on a side, opposite to the adhesive layer, of the base layer, having a liner expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and not containing an adhesive component.

2. The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein
the coating layer has a liner expansion coefficient smaller than that of the adhesive layer, and
the coating layer is thicker than the adhesive layer.

3. The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein
the coating layer has a liner expansion coefficient greater than that of the adhesive layer, and
the coating layer is thinner than the adhesive layer.

4. The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein a gasket is provided on the coating layer.

5. The fuel cell of claim 1 , further comprising another separator joined to the separator.

6. The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is modified polyolefin including at least one polyolefin including a functional group.

7. The fuel cell of claim 6 , wherein the modified polyolefin includes: any one of or combination of acid anhydride including maleic anhydride; carboxylic acid including acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; alcohols including vinyl alcohol and ethylhexyl acrylate; silane coupling agent; epoxy resin; and urethane resin.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibata Kazunori

Classifications

• H01M8/0284

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title

• B32B2250/44

  Number of layers variable across the laminate · CPC title

• B32B2255/10

  on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer · CPC title

• H01M8/0273 Primary

  with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame · CPC title

• B32B27/325

  comprising polycycloolefins · CPC title