Fuel cell single cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019109333-A1
Application number	US-201616091552-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Apr 11, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The fuel cell single cell of the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit in which an anode electrode, an electrolyte layer and a cathode electrode are sequentially laminated; a separator; and a current collection assisting layer disposed between the cathode electrode of the fuel cell unit and the separator. The separator has protruded portions that are in contact with the current collection assisting layer to form gas channels between the separator and the current collection assisting layer. Further, at least a part of an end of the cathode electrode in a planar direction of the cathode electrode extends outward beyond an end of the current collection assisting layer in a planar direction of the current collection assisting layer.

First claim

1 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . A fuel cell single cell, comprising: a fuel cell unit in which an anode electrode, an electrolyte layer and a cathode electrode are sequentially laminated; a separator; and a current collection assisting layer disposed between the cathode electrode of the fuel cell unit and the separator,
wherein the separator comprises protruded portions that are in contact with the current collection assisting layer to form gas channels between the separator and the current collection assisting layer, and at least a part of an end of the cathode electrode in a planar direction of the cathode electrode extends outward beyond an end of the current collection assisting layer in a planar direction of the current collection assisting layer.

14 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 , wherein the current collection assisting layer comprises a conductive portion and gas flowing holes that penetrate the current collection assisting layer in a laminating direction of the fuel cell unit.

15 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 , wherein the current collection assisting layer is constituted by an expanded metal.

16 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 , wherein an extend length of the end of the cathode electrode that extends outward beyond the end of the current collection assisting layer is greater than 1/1000 of a length of the cathode electrode.

17 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 , wherein the end of the cathode electrode in a planar direction perpendicular to a gas channel direction extends beyond the end of the current collection assisting layer in a planar direction perpendicular to the gas channel direction to be located outside the end of the current collection assisting layer in a planar direction perpendicular to the gas channel direction.

18 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 , wherein the end of the cathode electrode, the end being in an upstream of the gas channel direction, extends beyond the end of the current collection assisting layer, the end being in the upstream of the gas channel direction, to be located in the upstream of the gas channel direction.

19 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 , wherein the end of the current collection assisting layer in the gas channel direction and/or the end of the current collection assisting layer in a direction perpendicular to the gas channel direction is located outside an outermost protruded portion of the separator in a planar direction of the protruded portions of the separator.

20 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 19 , wherein an extended length of the end of the current collection assisting layer, the end being located outside the outermost protruded portion of the separator forming the gas channels in the planar direction of the protruded portions of the separator, is at least 20 times greater than a thickness of the current collection assisting layer.

21 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 ,
wherein the current collection assisting layer includes a fixed point at which the end of the current collection assisting layer in the direction perpendicular to the gas channel direction is fixed to the separator, and the fixed point of the current collection assisting layer is outside an outermost protruded portion of the separator forming the gas channels in a planar direction of the separator.

22 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 13 ,
further comprising a contacting material layer disposed between the cathode electrode of the fuel cell unit and the current collection assisting layer, wherein a conductive portion of the current collection assisting layer bites into the contacting material layer and is joined with the contacting material layer.

23 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 22 , wherein within range that the current collection assisting layer is in contact with the separator, a part of the contacting material layer that is outside an outermost protruded portion of the separator in the direction perpendicular to the gas channel direction is thicker than a part of the contacting material layer that is inside the outermost protruded portion.

24 . The fuel cell single cell according to claim 22 , wherein the conductive portion of the current collection assisting layer bites into the contacting material layer to a depth that is less than a thickness of the contacting material layer.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor

Inventors

• Okui Takehiko

Classifications

• H01M8/12

  operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte · CPC title

• H01M8/0254

  corrugated or undulated · CPC title

• H01M8/0258 Primary

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/0256

  Vias, i.e. connectors passing through the separator material · CPC title

• H01M8/0273

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