JP2005149749A - Separator and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a separator excellent in workability and corrosion resistance and a method for producing the same.
A separator (1) includes a thin metal plate (30) and a covering layer (31), and the covering layer (31) is formed to cover the surface of the thin metal plate (30). In the separation unit 13, the coating layer 31 comes into contact with the catalyst electrode 21, and the DC power generated at the interface between the polymer film 20 and the catalyst electrode 21 is taken out as a DC current and collected in the current collector plate through the separator 1. Is done. Since the coating layer 31 needs to have conductivity, for example, a material obtained by adding carbon fillers to various rubbers to provide conductivity.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a separator provided in a stack type polymer electrolyte fuel cell and a method for manufacturing the separator.

  Conventionally, the necessity of energy saving for effective use of limited energy resources and prevention of global warming has been widely recognized. Today, thermal power supplies energy demand in the form of converting thermal energy into electric energy.

  However, coal and oil necessary for thermal power generation are resources with limited reserves, and new energy resources to replace them are required. Therefore, attention is being focused on fuel cells that generate chemical power using hydrogen as a fuel.

  The fuel cell has two electrodes and an electrolyte sandwiched between the electrodes. At the cathode, the supplied hydrogen is ionized to form hydrogen ions that move through the electrolyte toward the anode. At the anode, the supplied oxygen reacts with hydrogen ions that have moved through the electrolyte to generate water. Electrons generated when hydrogen is ionized move from the cathode through the wiring to the anode, whereby a current flows and electricity is generated.

  Fuel cells are classified into four types mainly based on the difference in electrolyte. Solid electrolyte fuel cell (SOFC) using ion conductive ceramics as electrolyte, solid polymer fuel cell (PEFC) using hydrogen ion conductive polymer membrane as electrolyte, phosphorus using high concentration phosphoric acid as electrolyte There are four types: an acid fuel cell (PAFC) and a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) using an alkali metal carbonate as an electrolyte. Among them, development of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) having an operating temperature as low as 80 ° C. is in progress.

  The structure of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an electrolyte layer provided with a catalyst electrode on the surface, a separator provided with a groove for supplying hydrogen and oxygen, sandwiching the electrolyte layer from both sides, and collecting electricity generated by the electrode It includes a current collector plate. As with the electrolyte layer, improvements have been made to the separator.

  As the required characteristics of the separator, it is necessary to have high conductivity, high airtightness with respect to the fuel gas and the oxidant gas, and high corrosion resistance against the reaction when oxidizing and reducing hydrogen and oxygen.

In order to satisfy these requirements, the following separators are used.
The most commonly used is dense carbon. Dense carbon is excellent in electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance, and has high mechanical strength. In addition, it has good workability and is lightweight. However, it is vulnerable to vibrations and shocks and requires cutting, which increases the processing cost. Moreover, it is necessary to perform a gas impermeability treatment.

  Plastics are also used, and thermosetting resins such as phenol resins and epoxy resins are used. The main feature of plastics is low cost. However, the dimensional stability is poor and the conductivity is poor.

  From the viewpoints of conductivity, workability, sealing properties, etc., metals are often used. As the metal, titanium and stainless steel are mainly used.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. In this solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a metal thin plate on which a passive film is easily formed by the atmosphere, such as stainless steel and titanium alloy, is used as a separator, and the separator is processed into a predetermined shape by pressing.

JP-A-8-180883

  A separator using a metal plate has good workability but is easily corroded by oxygen gas. Further, since metal ions are taken into the electrolyte membrane and the ionic conductivity is lowered, it is necessary to perform gold plating on the separator surface.

  The objective of this invention is providing the separator excellent in workability and corrosion resistance, and its manufacturing method.

According to the present invention, a separation part is formed by a metal plate, which is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of an electrolyte layer containing an electrolyte medium, and separates the flow paths of fuel gas and oxidant gas Separator,
A separator characterized in that a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin is formed on the surface of a metal plate.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the rubber has conductivity.
In the invention, the coating layer is formed on the surface of the metal plate via an adhesive layer or a surface treatment layer.

  The present invention is also characterized in that a highly conductive layer having a conductivity higher than that of the coating layer is formed in a region of the coating layer in contact with the electrolyte assembly.

The present invention also provides a metal plate having a separation portion that is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer containing the electrolyte medium and separates the flow paths of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. A separator manufacturing method for forming,
A processing step of forming a separation portion by plastic deformation of a metal plate;
And a coating step of forming a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin on the surface of the deformed metal plate.

The present invention also provides a metal plate having a separation portion that is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer containing the electrolyte medium and separates the flow paths of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. A separator manufacturing method for forming,
A coating step of forming a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin on the surface of the metal plate;
And a processing step of forming a separation portion by plastic deformation of the metal plate on which the coating layer is formed.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized by having a highly conductive layer forming step of forming a highly conductive layer having conductivity higher than the conductivity of the coating layer in a region of the coating layer in contact with the electrolyte assembly.

  According to the present invention, the separator is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer containing the electrolyte medium, and separates the fuel gas and oxidant gas flow paths. The part is formed of a metal plate. By forming a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin on the surface of the metal plate, a separator excellent in workability and corrosion resistance can be provided.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the rubber of the covering layer has conductivity, the DC power generated in the electrolyte assembly can be taken out and collected through the separator.

  According to the invention, the coating layer is formed on the surface of the metal plate via the adhesive layer or the surface treatment layer. When the adhesive force between the coating layer and the metal plate is not sufficient, an adhesive layer or a surface treatment layer may be interposed. The surface treatment layer can be formed by removing the oxide film on the metal surface or roughening the metal surface, and the coating layer can be formed on the surface of the metal plate. Moreover, when using rubber | gum as a coating layer, it is preferable to use triazine thiols and polyaniline as an adhesive agent. Triazine thiols diffuse to the vicinity of the surface of the metal plate to form an adhesive layer and enable adhesion to rubber. Furthermore, since it exhibits triazine thiol conductivity, DC power generated in the electrolyte assembly can be taken out and collected through the separator.

  According to the invention, the highly conductive layer having conductivity higher than the conductivity of the coating layer is formed in the region of the coating layer in contact with the electrolyte assembly. Thereby, the contact resistance between the separator and the electrolyte assembly can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, the separation part that is interposed between the plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with the catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer containing the electrolyte medium and separates the flow paths of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is made of metal. It is a manufacturing method of the separator formed with a board.

First, in a processing step, the metal plate is plastically deformed to form a separation portion.
Next, in a coating step, a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin is formed on the surface of the deformed metal plate.

  Further, according to the present invention, first, a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin is formed on the surface of the metal plate in the coating step, and then the metal plate on which the coating layer is formed is plastically deformed in the processing step. Forming part.

Thereby, the separator excellent in workability and corrosion resistance can be manufactured easily.
In particular, from the viewpoint of productivity, the manufacturing method for forming in the order of the processing step and the coating step is suitable for small and medium-volume production, and the manufacturing method for forming in the order of the coating step and the processing step is suitable for mass production. .

According to the invention, in the highly conductive layer forming step, the highly conductive layer having conductivity higher than the conductivity of the coating layer is formed in the region of the coating layer in contact with the electrolyte assembly.
Thereby, the contact resistance between the separator and the electrolyte assembly can be reduced.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (abbreviated as PEFC) 100 is developed. The PEFC 100 includes a separator 1, a fuel battery cell 2, a current collector plate 3, an insulating sheet 4, an end flange 5, and an electrode wiring 12. The PEFC 100 is configured in a so-called stack state in which a plurality of fuel cells 2 are connected in series in order to obtain a high voltage and a high output. In order to configure this stack state, a separator is disposed between the fuel cells 2, and hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to each fuel cell 2 and the generated electricity is recovered. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cells 2 and the separators 1 are alternately arranged. The separator 1 is arranged on the outermost layer of this arrangement, and the current collector plate 3 is provided on the outer side of the separator 1. The current collector plate 3 is provided to collect and take out the electricity collected by each separator 1 and is connected to the electrode wiring 12. The insulating sheet 4 is provided between the current collector plate 3 and the end flange 5, and prevents current from leaking from the current collector plate 3 to the end flange 5. The end flange 5 is a case for holding the plurality of fuel cells 2 in a stacked state.

  A hydrogen gas supply port 6, a cooling water supply port 7, an oxygen gas supply port 8, a hydrogen gas discharge port 9, a cooling water discharge port 10 and an oxygen gas discharge port 11 are formed in the end flange 5. The gas and water fluid supplied from each supply port passes through each forward path penetrating in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 2 and is folded back by the outermost separator 1 and is discharged from each discharge port through each return path.

  The forward path and the return path are branched by each separator 1, and each fluid flowing in the forward path flows into the return path through a flow path formed by the separator 1 and parallel to the surface direction of the fuel cell 2. Since hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are consumed in the fuel battery cell 2, unreacted gas is discharged through the return path. The discharged unreacted gas is recovered and supplied again from the supply port. Since water is generated by the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen in the vicinity of the oxygen gas flow path, the discharged oxygen gas contains water. In order to supply oxygen gas again, it is necessary to remove water.

  The hydrogen gas that is a fuel gas and the oxygen gas that is an oxidant gas do not need to be hydrogen and oxygen alone, but can be any gas other than hydrogen and oxygen that does not deteriorate or denature the flow path in contact. May be included. For example, air containing nitrogen as oxygen gas may be used. The hydrogen source is not limited to hydrogen gas, and may be methane gas, ethylene gas, natural gas, or ethanol.

  FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the unit battery 101 including the separator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The unit battery 101 is composed of one fuel battery cell 2 and two separators 1 arranged on both sides of the unit battery 101. The unit battery 101 has a minimum configuration capable of generating electric power by supplying hydrogen and oxygen.

The fuel cell 2 as an electrolyte assembly includes a polymer film 20 as an electrolyte medium and a catalyst electrode 21 formed on the surface of the polymer film 20 in the thickness direction. The MEA (Membrane Electrode)
Also called Assembly.

  The polymer membrane 20 is a proton conductive electrolyte membrane that transmits hydrogen ions (protons), and a perfluorosulfonic acid resin membrane (for example, a product name “Nafion” manufactured by DuPont) is often used.

  The catalyst electrode 21 is laminated on the surface of the polymer film 20 in the thickness direction as a carbon layer containing a catalyst metal such as platinum or ruthenium. When hydrogen gas or oxygen gas is supplied to the catalyst electrode 21, an electrochemical reaction occurs at the interface between the catalyst electrode 21 and the polymer film 20 to generate DC power.

  The polymer film 20 has a thickness of about 0.1 mm, and the catalyst electrode 21 is formed with a thickness of several μm although it varies depending on the catalyst metal contained therein.

  The separator 1 has a separation portion 13 that separates the flow paths of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, and a seal portion that is provided on the outer peripheral portion and prevents leakage of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. In the present embodiment, the catalyst electrode 21 is not formed on the entire surface of the polymer film 20, but the polymer film 20 is exposed on the surface over an outer width of 1 to 20 mm, preferably 5 to 10 mm. The separator 13 of the separator 1 is formed in a region facing the region where the catalyst electrode 21 is formed, and the seal portion is formed in a region facing the region where the polymer film 20 is exposed.

  The separation part 13 and the seal part 14 are integrally formed. As a material of the separator 1, for example, a metal thin plate such as iron, aluminum, or titanium, particularly a stainless steel (for example, SUS304) steel plate, or a SPCC (general cold rolled steel plate) is preferable.

  The separating portion 13 and the seal portion 14 are integrally formed by subjecting a thin metal plate of the above material to plastic deformation, for example, press working. In addition, in order to improve heat resistance, what performed the BH (Baked Hardening) process after press work is preferable.

  The separation portion 13 is formed with a plurality of flow channel grooves parallel to each other and parallel to the formation surface of the catalyst electrode 21. This channel groove has a concave shape in a cross section perpendicular to the gas flow direction. The channel groove is composed of the separation wall 15 and the electrode contact wall 16, and the space surrounded by the separation wall 15, the electrode contact wall 16 and the catalyst electrode 21 becomes the hydrogen gas channel 17 and the oxygen gas channel 18. The separation wall 15 separates the hydrogen gas channel 17 and the oxygen gas channel 18 so that hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are not mixed. The electrode contact wall 16 is in contact with the catalyst electrode 21, takes out DC power generated at the interface between the polymer membrane 20 and the catalyst electrode 21 as DC current, and collects it through the separation wall 15, another electrode contact wall 16, and the like. Collected on the electric board.

  The channel grooves adjacent to each other are formed so that the open surfaces are opposite to each other, and accordingly, the hydrogen gas channel 17 and the oxygen gas channel 18 are set to be adjacent to each other. That is, the gas flow path is set so that the same gas contacts the same catalyst electrode 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the two separators 1 constituting one unit battery 101 are arranged so that the open portions of the flow channel grooves face each other with the fuel battery cell 2 interposed therebetween. That is, the two separators 1 are arranged so as to have a plane-symmetrical relationship with the center of the fuel cell 2 as the symmetry plane. However, the setting of the gas flow path is not a plane-symmetrical relationship, and the flow path grooves facing each other with the fuel cell 2 interposed therebetween are set so as to form gas flow paths for different gases. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, one of the gas flow paths facing each other across the fuel cell 2 is a hydrogen gas flow path 17, and the other is an oxygen gas flow path 18.

  Electric power can be generated by arranging the separator 1 and setting the gas flow path as described above.

  The flow path formed by the flow path groove and the catalyst electrode 21 is not limited to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, and cooling water may flow. When flowing the cooling water, it is preferable to flow in any of the channel grooves facing each other with the fuel battery cell 2 interposed therebetween.

  The seal portion 14 is formed with a seal protrusion that extends parallel to the surface on which the catalyst electrode 21 is formed. The seal projection has an inverted U-shaped or inverted V-shaped cross section perpendicular to the gas flow direction. The top portion 19 of the seal projection is pressed against the polymer film 20 exposed by the spring force. Sealing is performed at this pressure contact position, and leakage of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas can be prevented. In addition, the U-shaped or V-shaped seal protrusion is used to reduce the membrane contact area of the top 19 and realize a high-pressure seal similar to an O-ring.

  In order to press-contact the top 19 of the seal protrusion against the polymer film 20 by a spring force, the position of the top 19 of the seal protrusion in the separator 1 in a state where it does not come into contact with the polymer film 20, that is, before the PEFC 1 is assembled. However, the seal part 14 is formed in advance so that the PEFC 1 is assembled and the polymer film 20 side is further from the position where it is in contact with the polymer film 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the PEFC 1 is assembled, the position of the top 19 of the seal protrusion is determined based on the virtual contact surface A with the catalyst electrode 21. The distance between the contact surface and the top portion 19 is a position where the thickness t1 of the catalyst electrode 21 is obtained. Therefore, in a state before the PEFC 1 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 3B, the position of the top portion 19 of the seal projection is such that the distance from the contact surface with the catalyst electrode 21 is t2 larger than t1. What is necessary is just to form. Since the connecting portion between the separation portion 13 and the seal projection acts as a spring, the pressure when the top portion 19 is pressed against the polymer film during assembly is determined by this spring force and the contact area. The spring force is obtained by multiplying the spring constant (elastic constant) by the amount of displacement according to Hooke's law. In the separator 1, the spring constant is determined by the material of the separator 1 and the shape of the seal portion 14. The amount of displacement is Δt = t2−t1. Therefore, the seal pressure can be easily adjusted by changing t2 at the time of press work in a state where the material and shape are determined in advance and the spring constant is determined. Needless to say, the material and shape may be changed in order to achieve the optimum sealing pressure.

  As described above, since the two separators 1 sandwiching the fuel cell 2 are arranged so as to have a plane-symmetrical relationship, the pressure contact position by the top portion 19 of the seal projection also has a plane of symmetry about the center of the fuel cell 2. As shown in FIG. Since the pressure contact position of the top portion 19 is a facing position, the sealing performance is improved. Note that the stress relaxation of the seal portion 14 can be reduced and the sealing performance can be maintained by the above-described BH treatment.

  By covering the metal thin plate with rubber (including an elastomer) or a synthetic resin in the separation unit 13, surface changes such as corrosion caused by hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, and cooling water can be prevented.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the separation unit 13 in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 includes the metal thin plate 30 and the coating layer 31, and the coating layer 31 is formed to cover the surface of the metal thin plate 30. In the separation unit 13, the coating layer 31 comes into contact with the catalyst electrode 21, and the DC power generated at the interface between the polymer film 20 and the catalyst electrode 21 is taken out as a DC current and collected in the current collector plate through the separator 1. Is done. Since the coating layer 31 is made of rubber or synthetic resin and needs to have electrical conductivity, examples of rubber include general-purpose rubbers such as isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, and ethylene-propylene rubber. Further, a material obtained by adding a carbon filler to a special rubber such as epichlorohydrin rubber having gas permeation resistance and heat resistance can be used. In particular, allylic addition polymerization type polyisobutylene to which a carbon filler is added is preferable.

  Moreover, as a synthetic resin, what added the carbon filler to the phenol resin, the epoxy resin, the fluorine-containing resin, etc., and provided electroconductivity can be used. In particular, a fluorine-containing resin excellent in corrosion resistance is preferable. For example, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer). Polymer), EPE (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer), ETFE (tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer), PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), ECTFE (chlorotrifluoroethylene). -Ethylene copolymer), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), THV (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer), VD -HFP (vinylidene fluoride - hexafluoropropylene copolymer), TFE-P (vinylidene fluoride - propylene copolymer) is preferably obtained by adding carbon filler or the like.

  The coating of the coating layer 31 on the surface of the metal thin plate 30 may be achieved by, for example, roughening the surface of the metal thin plate 30 by oxidation treatment or the like to form a surface treatment layer and improving the adhesion by the anchor effect.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of the separation unit 13 in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 includes a metal thin plate 30, a coating layer 31, and an adhesive layer 32, and the coating layer 31 is formed on the surface of the metal thin plate 30 via the adhesive layer 32. In the separation unit 13, the coating layer 31 comes into contact with the catalyst electrode 21, and the generated DC power is extracted and collected as a DC current. For the covering layer 31, the same rubber as in the first embodiment can be used. As the adhesive layer 32, for example, triazine thiols are used. As in the first embodiment, when using a rubber that does not provide sufficient adhesion due to surface roughening of the metal thin plate 30, the metal thin plate 30, the coating layer 31, and the like can be obtained by using triazine thiols. Can be sufficiently bonded. Furthermore, since the triazine thiols diffused on the metal surface show conductivity, the generated DC power can be taken out as a DC current.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the separation unit 13 in the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 includes a thin metal plate 30, a coating layer 31, an adhesive layer 32, and a highly conductive layer 33, and has a conductivity higher than the conductivity of the coating layer 31 in a region in contact with the catalyst electrode 21 of the coating layer 31. The highly conductive layer 33 having the property is formed.

  When the contact resistance between the coating layer 31 and the catalyst electrode 21 is high and the power recovery rate is low, the contact resistance is reduced by forming the highly conductive layer 33 in the contact region with the catalyst electrode 21 to improve the recovery rate. Can be made. For the highly conductive layer 33, it is preferable to use a reactive elastomer obtained by adding nanocarbon.

  Although the case where the metal thin plate 30 is covered with the coating layer 31 for the separating portion 13 has been described, the metal thin plate 30 may be covered with the coating layer 31 similarly for the seal portion 14.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of the seal portion 14 in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 includes the metal thin plate 30 and the coating layer 31, and the coating layer 31 is formed to cover the surface of the metal thin plate 30. In the seal portion 14, the coating layer 31 contacts and seals the polymer film 20.

  When the metal thin plate 30 is in contact with the polymer film 20, if the top portion 19 of the seal protrusion is deformed, a minute gap is formed between the deformed portion and the surface of the polymer film 20, and fluid leaks from this gap. There is a risk. On the other hand, rubber is a highly elastic body, and the contact portion is deformed by being pressed against the top portion 19 by a spring force, so that a gap is not generated, so that the sealing performance is improved.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of the seal portion 14 in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 includes a metal thin plate 30, a coating layer 31, and an adhesive layer 32, and the coating layer 31 is formed on the surface of the metal thin plate 30 via the adhesive layer 32. In the seal portion 14, the coating layer 31 contacts and seals the polymer film 20. For the covering layer 31, the same rubber as that of the first embodiment can be used. As the adhesive layer 32, for example, triazine thiols are used. As in the first embodiment, when using a rubber that does not provide sufficient adhesion due to surface roughening of the metal thin plate 30, the metal thin plate 30, the coating layer 31, and the like can be obtained by using triazine thiols. Can be glued.

  FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of a unit battery 101 including the separator 1 according to another embodiment. As shown in the figure, in one separator 1 of the unit battery 101, the cross section of the seal protrusion may be trapezoidal so that the seal protrusion is in surface contact with the polymer film 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in both separators 1 of the unit battery 101, the cross section of the seal protrusion may be trapezoidal so that the seal protrusion is in surface contact with the polymer film 20.

  FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the unit battery 102 including the separator 1a according to the fourth embodiment. The same parts as those of the unit battery 101 shown in FIG. Below, a different part from the unit battery 101 is demonstrated. The separator 1a has a separation part 13 and a seal part 14a, and the fuel cell 2a has a polymer film 20 and a catalyst electrode 21a. Unlike the first to third embodiments, the catalyst electrode 21 a is formed on the entire surface of the polymer film 20. Therefore, the top portion 19 of the seal protrusion of the seal portion 14a is pressed against the catalyst electrode 21a, not the polymer film 20. In order to press-contact the top 19 of the seal protrusion against the catalyst electrode 21a by a spring force, the position of the top 19 of the seal protrusion in the separator 1 in a state where it does not contact the catalyst electrode 21, that is, before the PEFC 1 is assembled, The seal portion 14 is formed in advance so as to be further on the catalyst electrode 21 side than the virtual contact surface A with the catalyst electrode 21. This embodiment is the same as the case where t1 in FIG. Therefore, as in the first to third embodiments, the seal pressure can be easily adjusted by changing t2 during press working. In the fourth and subsequent embodiments, since only the seal portion 14 is different, the separation portion 13 may be any one of the first to third embodiments.

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a main part of the seal portion 14a in the fourth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 a includes the metal thin plate 30 and the coating layer 31, and the coating layer 31 is formed to cover the surface of the metal thin plate 30. In the seal portion 14a, the coating layer 31 is in contact with the catalyst electrode 21 for sealing. For the covering layer 31, the same rubber as that of the first embodiment can be used.

  FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part of the seal portion 14a in the fifth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the separator 1 includes a metal thin plate 30, a coating layer 31, and an adhesive layer 32, and the coating layer 31 is formed on the surface of the metal thin plate 30 via the adhesive layer 32. In the seal portion 14, the coating layer 31 is in contact with the catalyst electrode 21 for sealing. For the covering layer 31, the same rubber as that of the first embodiment can be used. As the adhesive layer 32, triazine thiols are used.

Next, the manufacturing method of the separator 1 is demonstrated.
About 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th embodiment, it can manufacture mainly with two types of manufacturing methods. First, the metal thin plate 30 is first pressed to integrally form the separation portion 13 and the seal portion 14. Specifically, a seal projection is formed on the outer periphery by beading, and a flow channel groove is formed in the center by embossing. Next, it is a method of coating the rubber which is the coating layer 31. The second is a method in which a flat metal thin plate is first coated with rubber and then pressed.

  In the third embodiment, the rubber coating is applied in the same manner as in the first, second, fourth, and fifth embodiments, and only the contact area with the catalyst electrode 21 is sprayed, transferred, screen printed. Selectively coated by a method and a stencil printing method.

  Furthermore, in 1st-5th embodiment, it heat-processes at the temperature of 130 degreeC or more, the metal thin plate 30 is hardened, and bridge | crosslinking of rubber | gum is performed.

  A predetermined number of separators 1 and fuel cells 2 obtained as described above are alternately arranged, current collector plates 3 and insulating sheets 4 are arranged outside them, and are sandwiched and fixed by end flanges 5 to thereby fix PEFC100. Is obtained.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell 100 in a developed state. FIG. It is a horizontal sectional view of unit cell 101 including separator 1 which is a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the shape of the seal part 14 for a spring force to generate | occur | produce. It is a principal part enlarged view of the isolation | separation part 13 in 1st Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of the isolation | separation part 13 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of the isolation | separation part 13 in 3rd Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of the seal part 14 in 1st Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of the seal part 14 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a horizontal sectional view of unit battery 101 including separator 1 which is other embodiments. It is a horizontal sectional view of unit battery 101 including separator 1 which is other embodiments. It is a horizontal sectional view of unit cell 102 including separator 1a which is a 4th embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of the seal part 14a in 4th Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of the seal part 14a in 5th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1a Separator 2,2a Fuel cell 3 Current collector plate 4 Insulation sheet 5 End flange 6 Hydrogen gas supply port 7 Cooling water supply port 8 Oxygen gas supply port 9 Hydrogen gas discharge port 10 Cooling water discharge port 11 Oxygen gas discharge port DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Electrode wiring 13 Separation part 14,14a Seal part 15 Separation wall 16 Electrode contact wall 17 Hydrogen gas flow path 18 Oxygen gas flow path 19 Top part 20 Polymer film 21,21a Catalyst electrode 30 Metal thin plate 31 Coating layer 32 Adhesion layer 33 High Conductive layer 100 Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)
101,102 unit battery

Claims (7)

The separator is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer containing the electrolyte medium, and a separation portion for separating the flow paths of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is formed of a metal plate. And
A separator characterized in that a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin is formed on the surface of a metal plate.   The separator according to claim 1, wherein the rubber has conductivity.   The separator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coating layer is formed on the surface of the metal plate via an adhesive layer or a surface treatment layer.   The separator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a highly conductive layer having a conductivity higher than that of the coating layer is formed in a region of the coating layer in contact with the electrolyte assembly. Manufacture of a separator which is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of an electrolyte layer containing an electrolyte medium, and which forms a separation portion for separating the flow paths of fuel gas and oxidant gas with a metal plate A method,
A processing step of forming a separation portion by plastic deformation of a metal plate;
And a coating step of forming a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin on the surface of the deformed metal plate. Manufacture of a separator which is interposed between a plurality of electrolyte assemblies provided with catalyst electrodes on the surface in the thickness direction of an electrolyte layer containing an electrolyte medium, and which forms a separation part for separating a flow path of fuel gas and oxidant gas from a metal plate A method,
A coating step of forming a coating layer of rubber or synthetic resin on the surface of the metal plate;
And a processing step of forming a separation portion by plastic deformation of the metal plate on which the coating layer is formed.   7. The separator according to claim 5, further comprising a high conductive layer forming step of forming a highly conductive layer having a conductivity higher than that of the coating layer in a region of the coating layer in contact with the electrolyte assembly. Method.

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