The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising:
an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode and a
polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; an anode-side conductive
separator plate having a gas flow channel for supplying a fuel gas to the anode;
and a cathode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow channel for supplying
an oxidant gas to the cathode.
A conductive separator plate made of carbon has poor wettability with water.
This
has posed the disadvantage that variations in performance are induced by nonuniform
gas distribution among cells due to the accumulation of product water or humidifying
water in the gas flow channel on the surface of the separator plate.
The present invention employs a conductive separator plate comprising a conductive
carbon having a hydrophilic functional group, at least in a portion of the gas
flow channels, thereby preventing water from accumulating in the gas flow channels.
