JP2000003718A - Method for activating high molecular electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To instantaneously provide the battery output of high performance when operating a high molecular electrolyte fuel cell, immediately after assembling it or operating the fuel cell again after it has been left standing unused for a long time. SOLUTION: A high molecular electrolyte fuel cell is boiled in the deionized water, or the hot water is led into a gas supplying passage, or alcohol is led into the gas supplying passage of the high molecular electrolyte fuel cell, and thereafter the fuel cell is washed by the deionized water. Power is generated at a high oxygen utilizing factor in the high molecular electrolyte fuel cell, and held at a low electric potential so as to easily lead out the battery output of high performance natural to the battery itself in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a proton conductive polymer electrolyte thin film, positive and negative electrodes, a gasket located at the periphery of each electrode, and a carbon or metal material. It consisted of a bipolar plate and a cooling plate. The electrode catalyst layer contributing to the battery reaction is composed of a mixture of a carbon powder supporting a noble metal catalyst and a material equivalent to an electrolyte, and a mixture to which a fluorocarbon compound-based water repellent is added as necessary. Are common constituent materials. The electrode is formed by joining the electrode catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer. The electrode constituted in this way is combined with a polymer film as an electrolyte to constitute a battery. When pure hydrogen is used as fuel, the same material can be used for the anode and the cathode. When a hydrogen-rich gas obtained by reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel is used as a fuel, the poisoning of the noble metal catalyst by carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas is suppressed. It has also been considered to add poisoning materials to the composition. In addition, since the CO poisoning characteristics of the electrode are alleviated as the temperature becomes higher, it is general to operate the battery at a relatively high temperature of about 70 ° C. to 90 ° C. when the reformed gas is used as fuel. .

On the other hand, a polymer electrolyte having a main chain of —CF ₂ — and a pendant side chain having a sulfone group (—SO ₃ H) as a terminal functional group is generally used. Functions as a proton-conducting electrolyte in a state containing. Therefore, in the operating state of the battery, the electrolyte must always contain water, but the electrolyte containing water exhibits strong acidity. Therefore, the material of the portion in direct contact with the electrolyte is required to have acid resistance.

[0004] Since the electrolyte functions as an electrolyte in a state of containing water, when operating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, fuel or air humidified to a dew point at a temperature substantially equal to the operating temperature of the cell is supplied to the cell. There is a need to. In particular, as the battery operating temperature becomes higher, the humidification control of the supplied gas becomes more important.

[0005]

When a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is operated immediately after assembly, or when a battery that has been left unused for a long time is restarted, the battery is maintained at a predetermined temperature and supplied. It is generally difficult to obtain a high-performance battery output instantaneously even when supplying gas whose gas is controlled to a predetermined temperature or humidification amount. This is because the electrode diffusion layer of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell has been treated for water repellency,
It takes a long time to hydrate a virgin electrode diffusion layer that is not wet at all.

Also, it takes a long time for a material equivalent to the polymer electrolyte contained in the electrode catalyst to sufficiently absorb moisture. Moreover, even if the battery is maintained at a predetermined temperature and the supply gas is controlled at a predetermined temperature and humidification amount and is maintained for a long time, the electrode diffusion layer does not easily hydrate under no load condition. . Furthermore, materials equivalent to the polymer electrolyte contained in the electrode catalyst are unlikely to absorb moisture, continue to generate power at a high current density, and finally draw out the high-performance battery output inherent in the battery several days later Becomes

[0007] Therefore, in order to extract the high-performance output of the battery at an early stage, power generation is performed at a higher current density in pure oxygen, or the potential is regulated while supplying a sufficiently large flow rate of the supply gas. Has been performed, for example, by maintaining the voltage around 0V. Even with such a method, it generally took several hours or more to extract the high-performance battery output that the battery originally has.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, a method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention comprises:
A polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a unit battery further sandwiching the positive electrode and the negative electrode with a bipolar plate having a gas supply path, at least the unit battery, a current collector, In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell module in which an insulating plate and an end plate are laminated, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module is boiled in deionized water or weakly acidic water.

Also, a unit battery in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are sandwiched between bipolar plates having a gas supply path, and at least the unit battery, In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell module in which a current collector plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate are laminated, deionized water or weak deionized water having a temperature higher than the operating temperature of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided in the gas supply path. It is characterized by introducing acidic water.

At this time, it is effective that the pressure of deionized water or weakly acidic water introduced into the gas supply passage is set to 0.1 kgf / cm ² or more.

[0011] Further, a unit battery comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and further comprising the positive electrode and the negative electrode sandwiched by a bipolar plate having a gas supply path, wherein at least the unit battery comprises: In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell module in which a current collector plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate are laminated, after introducing alcohol into the gas supply passage, the alcohol is introduced with steam, deionized water, or weakly acidic water. The gas supply path is cleaned.

As described above, it is effective that the weakly acidic water is a hydrogen peroxide solution. Further, it is effective that the ion exchange group of the polymer electrolyte membrane is SO ₃ H and the weakly acidic water is an aqueous solution of dilute sulfuric acid.

[0013] Further, the polymer electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are sandwiched between bipolar plates to form a unit battery. At least the unit battery, a current collector plate, In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell module in which an insulating plate and an end plate are laminated, power generation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module is performed at an oxygen utilization rate of 50% or more, and further, an average voltage per unit cell is obtained. Is applied to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module for a predetermined time.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention provides a high-performance battery output which is inherently provided in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell simply and in a short time by boiling it in deionized water or weakly acidic water. It is possible to withdraw. At this time, by boiling in weakly acidic water, impurity ions contained in the same material as the polymer electrolyte contained in the electrolyte membrane and the electrode catalyst layer can be exchanged for protons, and higher performance can be obtained. .

However, it is assumed that it is difficult to boil a large-area or highly-stacked fuel cell stack in water from the viewpoint of container capacity and handleability. Therefore, by introducing deionized water or weakly acidic water having a temperature higher than a predetermined cell operating temperature into a gas supply path of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a high-performance It is possible to extract the output. More preferably, at this time, by increasing the water pressure to 0.1 kgf / cm ² or more, it becomes possible to quickly obtain a high-performance battery output.

Further, by introducing alcohol into the gas supply path of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the diffusion layer of the electrode can be immediately adapted to the alcohol. Thereafter, the electrode diffusion layer can be hydrated easily and in a short time by washing with steam, deionized water, or weakly acidic water, and the high-performance battery output originally possessed by the battery can be obtained. .

At this time, if residual alcohol is present on the fuel electrode side, the alcohol is oxidized by the electrode catalyst to generate an electrode poisoning substance. It is important to hydrate the electrode diffusion layer on the positive electrode side rather than on the fuel electrode side in order to draw out the high performance battery output that the battery originally has. Therefore, a sufficient effect can be obtained even if the alcohol is supplied only to the air side. Further, it is more desirable to supply the oxidizing gas to the fuel electrode side for a while after the activation treatment, to further oxidize and remove the electrode poisoning substance, and then supply the fuel gas.

As the polymer electrolyte, for example, -C
When a side chain having a main chain of F ₂ — and a sulfonic group (—SO ₃ H) as a terminal functional group pendant thereto is used, a weak acidic water may be used as a weak acidic water to activate the dilute sulfuric acid. Is preferred. The reason is because the ion exchange groups of the polymer electrolyte is -SO ₃ H, even when introduced into a dilute sulfuric acid, due to the fact that no residual sulfate ions.

Further, it is necessary to remove metal ions from the deionized water or the weakly acidic water introduced in the activation step.
The reason for this is that if there is a metal ion, an ion-exchange group of the polymer electrolyte e.g. -SO ₃ ^- is bonded to the metal ion, -SO ₃ Me (Me is a metal element) loses, and the ion exchange capacity It depends. To prevent this phenomenon,
As the weakly acidic water to be introduced, a hydrogen peroxide solution composed only of pure and hydrogen ions is particularly useful.

Further, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is 50%
Power is generated at the above oxygen utilization rate, the positive electrode side of the battery is placed in a semi-asphyxial state, and the average battery voltage is maintained at a potential of 0.3 V or less. It is possible to draw out the high-performance battery output that it has.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

Example 1 An acetylene black-based carbon powder carrying 25% by weight of platinum particles having an average particle size of about 30 was used as a catalyst for a reaction electrode. A dispersion solution of the perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid powder shown in Chemical Formula 1 in ethyl alcohol was mixed with a solution of this catalyst powder dispersed in isopropanol to form a paste. Using this paste as a raw material, an electrode catalyst layer was formed on one surface of a carbon nonwoven fabric having a thickness of 250 μm using a screen printing method. Amount of platinum contained in the reaction electrode after forming the 0.5 mg / cm ^2, the amount of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid was adjusted to be 1.2 mg / cm ^2.

[0023]

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These electrodes have the same configuration for both the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the catalyst layers printed on both sides of the central portion of the proton conductive polymer electrolyte membrane having an area slightly larger than the electrodes so that the catalyst layers contact the electrolyte membrane side. The electrode / electrolyte assembly (MEA) was formed by joining by hot pressing. Here, as the proton conductive polymer electrolyte, a thin film of the perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid shown in Chemical Formula 2 with a thickness of 25 μm was used.

[0025]

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A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is formed by sandwiching the MEA between two bipolar plates in such a manner that the MEA is opposed to two gas flow paths made of a non-porous carbon bipolar plate. did. Heaters provided with necessary gas manifold holes on both outer sides of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
Attach tar plate, current collector plate, insulating plate, end plate,
Using a bolt, a spring, and a nut, the outermost end plates were tightened at a pressure of 20 kg / cm ² with respect to the electrode area, thereby forming a unit cell of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. This cell is placed in distilled water subjected to ion exchange for 1 hour.
Boil for an hour.

After that, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell was
A hydrogen gas kept at 5 ° C. and humidified and heated to a dew point of 73 ° C. on one electrode side and 68 ° C. on the other electrode side
Humidified and heated air was supplied so as to have a dew point. At this time, when no load was applied, a battery voltage of 0.98 V was obtained.
Further, this battery was used with a fuel utilization of 80% and an oxygen utilization of
% And a current density of 0.3 A / cm ² , a continuous power generation test yielded a battery voltage of 0.7 V or more immediately after power generation. Furthermore, power generation was possible without deterioration of the battery voltage while maintaining the battery voltage of 0.7 V or more for 5000 hours or more.

For comparison, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having exactly the same configuration and not boiling in ion-exchanged distilled water, that is, without an activation treatment, was prepared, and a power generation test was performed under the same conditions. As a result, at no load, only a battery voltage of 0.93 V was obtained. This battery has a fuel utilization of 80
%, Oxygen utilization of 40%, and current density of 0.3 A / cm ² , the operation was not possible at the beginning, and when the load was forcibly taken, the electromotive voltage dropped to 0 V or less. Therefore, fuel utilization rate 70%, oxygen utilization rate 20%, current density 0.1 A / cm ²
A power generation test was performed under the conditions described above, and it was confirmed that the performance was gradually improved, and the load was gradually increased to 0.7 A / cm ² . The above operation was repeated three times, and thereafter, the gas utilization rate and the like were returned to the initial conditions, and it took about three days to obtain a battery voltage of 0.7 V or more at a load of 0.3 A / cm ² .

In this embodiment, an example was shown in which the battery was boiled in distilled water subjected to ion exchange. However, the same effect was obtained when the battery was stored in a hydrogen peroxide solution with ph = 5 for 2 hours.

Example 2 A catalyst for a reaction electrode was prepared by supporting 25% by weight of platinum particles having an average particle size of about 30 on acetylene black-based carbon powder. A dispersion solution of the perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid powder shown in Chemical Formula 1 in ethyl alcohol was mixed with a solution of this catalyst powder dispersed in isopropanol to form a paste. Using this paste as a raw material, an electrode catalyst layer was formed on one surface of a carbon nonwoven fabric having a thickness of 250 μm using a screen printing method. Amount of platinum contained in the reaction electrode after forming the 0.5 mg / cm ^2, the amount of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid was adjusted to be 1.2 mg / cm ^2.

These electrodes have the same structure for both the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The catalyst layers printed on both sides of the center of the proton conductive polymer electrolyte membrane having an area slightly larger than the electrodes so that the printed catalyst layers are in contact with the electrolyte membrane side. The electrode / electrolyte assembly (MEA) was formed by joining by hot pressing. Here, as the proton conductive polymer electrolyte, a thin film of the perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid shown in Chemical Formula 2 with a thickness of 25 μm was used.

The MEA is opposed to the gas flow paths of two bipolar plates made of non-porous carbon, and the MEA is sandwiched between the two bipolar plates to constitute a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. did. Heaters provided with necessary gas manifold holes on both outer sides of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
Attach tar plate, current collector plate, insulating plate, end plate,
Using a bolt, a spring, and a nut, the outermost end plates were tightened at a pressure of 20 kg / cm ² with respect to the electrode area, thereby forming a unit cell of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Using this as a unit battery, 100 layers were continuously stacked. A current collector plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate provided with necessary gas manifold / cooling water manifold holes are attached to both outer sides of the laminated battery, and a bolt is connected between the outermost end plates. Using a spring and a nut, the stack was fastened at a pressure of 20 kg / cm ² with respect to the electrode area to form a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack.

A 0.01 N sulfuric acid aqueous solution at 95 ° C. was introduced for 30 minutes from both the gas inlets on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side of this single cell. At this time, the pressure was adjusted so that a pressure of 0.1 kgf / cm ² was applied to the aqueous solution introduced by restricting the outlet on the outlet side.

Thereafter, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack was maintained at 75 ° C. by circulating cooling water, and hydrogen gas humidified and heated so as to have a dew point of 73 ° C. on one electrode side, and hydrogen gas was supplied to the other electrode side. When humidified and warmed air was supplied to the electrode side of 68 ° C. so as to have a dew point of 68 ° C., no load was applied.
A battery voltage of 8 V was obtained. In addition, this battery was used at a fuel utilization rate of 8
A continuous power generation test was performed under the conditions of 0%, an oxygen utilization rate of 40%, and a current density of 0.3 A / cm ² .
A battery voltage of 7 V or more was obtained. Furthermore, power generation was possible without deterioration of the battery voltage while maintaining the battery voltage of 0.7 V or more for 5000 hours or more.

In this embodiment, a 30% aqueous solution of 0.01 N sulfuric acid at 95 ° C. was supplied through both gas inlets on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side of the cell.
Although an example of activation by introducing for one minute was shown, one activated by introducing a hydrogen peroxide solution at 90 ° C. and ph = 5 also exhibited the same effect. Similarly, 95
The same effect was obtained by introducing deionized water at 3 ° C. for 3 hours.

Example 3 An acetylene black-based carbon powder carrying 25% by weight of platinum particles having an average particle size of about 30 was used as a catalyst for a reaction electrode. A dispersion solution of the perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid powder shown in Chemical Formula 1 in ethyl alcohol was mixed with a solution of this catalyst powder dispersed in isopropanol to form a paste. Using this paste as a raw material, an electrode catalyst layer was formed on one surface of a carbon nonwoven fabric having a thickness of 250 μm using a screen printing method. Amount of platinum contained in the reaction electrode after forming the 0.5 mg / cm ^2, the amount of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid was adjusted to be 1.2 mg / cm ^2.

These electrodes have the same structure for both the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the catalyst layers printed on both sides of the center of the proton conductive polymer electrolyte membrane having an area slightly larger than the electrodes so that the catalyst layers are in contact with the electrolyte membrane side. The electrode / electrolyte assembly (MEA) was formed by joining by hot pressing. Here, as the proton conductive polymer electrolyte, a perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid shown in (Chemical Formula 2) thinned to a thickness of 25 μm was used.

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is formed by sandwiching the MEA between the two bipolar plates in such a manner that the MEA faces two gas flow passages made of a non-porous carbon bipolar plate. did. Heaters provided with necessary gas manifold holes on both outer sides of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
Attach tar plate, current collector plate, insulating plate, end plate,
Using a bolt, a spring, and a nut, the outermost end plates were tightened at a pressure of 20 kg / cm ² with respect to the electrode area, thereby forming a unit cell of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

About 100 c from the gas supply port of this cell
After supplying methanol of (c), washing was performed by supplying ion-exchange distilled water. Thereafter, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell was maintained at 75 ° C., and humidified and heated air was supplied to both electrode sides so as to have a dew point of 70 ° C. for 1 hour, and then the fuel electrode side was replaced with nitrogen gas. . Thereafter, hydrogen gas humidified and heated to a dew point of 73 ° C. on the fuel electrode side was added to the air electrode side for 68 hours.
When humidified and heated air was supplied so as to have a dew point of ° C., a battery voltage of 0.98 V was obtained at no load. Also,
When a continuous power generation test was performed on this battery under the conditions of a fuel utilization rate of 80%, an oxygen utilization rate of 40%, and a current density of 0.3 A / cm ² , a battery voltage of 0.7 V or more was obtained immediately after power generation. Furthermore, power generation was possible without deterioration of the battery voltage while maintaining the battery voltage of 0.7 V or more for 5000 hours or more.

In this embodiment, after methanol is supplied,
It was activated by supplying ion exchange distilled water,
Activated by introducing a hydrogen peroxide solution having a pH of 5 for 1 hour also exhibited the same effect.

The same effect was obtained by using an aqueous solution of dilute sulfuric acid with ph = 5. (Example 4) A catalyst for a reaction electrode was prepared by supporting 25% by weight of platinum particles having an average particle size of about 30 on acetylene black-based carbon powder. This catalyst powder is treated with isopropano-
A dispersion solution in which the powder of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid shown in Chemical Formula 1 was dispersed in ethyl alcohol was mixed with the solution dispersed in water, to form a paste.
Using this paste as a raw material and a screen printing method,
An electrode catalyst layer was formed on one surface of a carbon nonwoven fabric having a thickness of 250 μm. Amount of platinum contained in the reaction electrode after forming the 0.5 mg / cm ^2, the amount of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid was adjusted to be 1.2 mg / cm ^2.

These electrodes have the same structure for both the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The catalyst layers printed on both sides of the center portion of the proton conductive polymer electrolyte membrane having an area slightly larger than the electrodes so that the printed catalyst layers are in contact with the electrolyte membrane side. The electrode / electrolyte assembly (MEA) was formed by joining by hot pressing. Here, as the proton conductive polymer electrolyte, a thin film of the perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid shown in Chemical Formula 2 with a thickness of 25 μm was used.

The MEA is sandwiched between two gaskets,
Further, a MEA and a gasket were sandwiched between the two bipolar plates in such a manner that the gas flow paths of the two bipolar plates made of a non-porous carbon plate faced each other, thereby constituting a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. On both sides of this polymer electrolyte fuel cell,
Heaters provided with necessary gas manifold holes
Attach the plate, current collector plate, insulating plate and end plate and tighten the outermost end plate between the outermost end plates with bolts, springs and nuts at a pressure of 20 kg / cm ² against the electrode area. A unit cell of the electrolyte fuel cell was constructed.

Without subjecting the single cell to activation treatment, the temperature was raised to 75 ° C., and hydrogen gas humidified and heated to a dew point of 73 ° C. on the fuel electrode side and a dew point of 68 ° C. on the air electrode side When humidified and heated air was supplied to the battery, a battery voltage of 0.93 V was obtained at no load. Next, while adjusting the gas flow rate so as to obtain a fuel utilization rate of 90% and an oxygen utilization rate of 60%, the battery was generated at a low potential so that the battery voltage became 0.1, and held for 1 hour.

Thereafter, a fuel utilization rate of 90% and an oxygen utilization rate of 6
The gas flow rate was adjusted to 0%, and a continuous power generation test was performed at a constant current density of 0.3 A / cm ^{2. As} a result, a battery voltage of 0.7 V or more was obtained immediately after power generation. Furthermore, while maintaining the battery voltage of 0.7 V or more for 5000 hours or more,
Power generation was possible without deterioration of the battery voltage.

In the present embodiment, the applied voltage for activation was set to 0.1 V per cell, but the effect was significantly reduced at a voltage higher than 0.3 V.

Further, when the applied voltage was made lower than 0 V per cell and applied for a long time, the output characteristics of the cell deteriorated. It is considered that this is because when the applied voltage is lower than 0 V per cell, a so-called reversal phenomenon of the battery occurs, and the reaction part of the battery is partially destroyed.

[0049]

As described above, the present invention provides a high-performance battery originally provided by a polymer electrolyte fuel cell simply and in a short time by boiling it in deionized water or weakly acidic water. It is possible to extract the output. In addition, by introducing deionized water or weakly acidic water having a temperature higher than a predetermined cell operating temperature into a gas supply path of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the high performance of the cell originally provided in a simple and short time can be achieved. Battery output can be drawn. More preferably, at this time, by applying the water pressure to 0.1 kgf / cm ² or more, it becomes possible to quickly obtain a high-performance battery output.

Also, by introducing alcohol into the gas supply passage of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell and then washing it with water vapor, deionized water or weakly acidic water, the cell can be easily and quickly provided. A high-performance battery output.

Further, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell generates electricity at an oxygen utilization rate of 50% or more, and the average cell voltage is maintained at a potential of 0.3 V or less for 10 seconds or more, so that the fuel cell can be easily and quickly prepared. It is possible to draw out the high-performance battery output that the device has.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 15, 1999 (1999.6.1
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0023]

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[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0025

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0025]

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 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Kazufumi Nishida, 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Teruhisa Kamihara 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.F-term (reference)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A unit battery comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and further comprising the positive electrode and the negative electrode sandwiched by a bipolar plate having a gas supply path, and at least the unit battery; Current collector plate, insulating plate, end plate
A method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising boiling the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module in deionized water or weakly acidic water. 2. A unit battery having a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and further sandwiching the positive electrode and the negative electrode with a bipolar plate having a gas supply path, wherein at least the unit battery comprises: Current collector plate, insulating plate, end plate
And a deionized water or a weakly acidic water having a temperature higher than the operating temperature of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is introduced into the gas supply path. A method for activating a molecular electrolyte fuel cell. 3. The activity of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the pressure of deionized water or weakly acidic water introduced into the gas supply path is 0.1 kgf / cm ² or more. Method. 4. A unit battery having a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and further sandwiching the positive electrode and the negative electrode with a bipolar plate having a gas supply path, and at least the unit battery; Current collector plate, insulating plate, end plate
In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module having the above structure, after introducing alcohol into the gas supply path, the gas supply path is washed with steam, deionized water, or weakly acidic water. A method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 5. The method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the weakly acidic water is hydrogen peroxide. 6. The ion exchange group of the polymer electrolyte membrane is SO ₃
5. The method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein H is H and the weakly acidic water is an aqueous solution of dilute sulfuric acid. 7. A unit battery comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and further comprising the positive electrode and the negative electrode sandwiched by a bipolar plate, wherein at least the unit battery comprises:
In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell module in which a current collector plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate are laminated, power generation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module is performed at an oxygen utilization rate of 50% or more. A method for activating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising applying a voltage having an average voltage per cell of 0.3 V or less to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell module for a predetermined time.