DIRECT METHANOL TYPE FUEL CELL AND METHOD OF PREVENTING ELUTION OF ITS FUEL POLE, QUALITY CONTROL METHOD AND OPERATION METHOD

摘要

A direct methanol type fuel cell for monitoring the elution of a fuel pole material into a fuel. The elution is caused by a fuel having a high-concentration of at least 2 M or the elution of perfluorosulfonic-acid polymer in a fuel pole into a fuel at an operation temperature of at least 80°C, and an electrode catalyst elutes into a fuel to deteriorate characteristics. The operation conditions of a fuel cell are limited so that a fuel concentration is less than 2M and an operation temperature is up to 80°C, thereby preventing elution; and quality control is effected by evaluating elution characteristics during the production of a fuel cell. In addition, the presence of elution is detected by the color or the like of a fuel, and the upper limits of an operation temperature and a fuel concentration are lowered at the time of elution to prevent an additional elution.