GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODE, ITS FORMING METHOD, AND FILM-ELECTRODE JUNCTION

摘要

Provided are a gas diffusion electrode, which is sufficient in electric conductivity and mechanical strength, which can also be applied to a cylindrical fuel cell and which is inexpensive, a method for forming the electrode, and an MEA equipped with the electrode. In the gas diffusion electrode, carbon fibers are entangled with each other, and are jointed at their contact points by an electrically conductive polymer and a thermosetting resin. The carbon fibers are jointed at one portion by only the conductive polymer, at another such that they are jointed by the conductive polymer and such that the conductive polymer is covered with the thermosetting resin, and at still another by only the thermosetting resin. The portions, which are jointed by the conductive polymer, exist all over the gas diffusion electrode. As a result, the gas diffusion electrode has an electric conductivity as high as a volume resistance of about 0.02 (O cm) in both a thickness direction and a surface direction.