FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to fuel cells with a proton-exchange membrane. According to the invention, the electrochemical fuel cell contains a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a cathode surface and anode surface, lying between the cathode plate of the fluid medium flow field (PFMFF) and the anode plate of the fluid medium flow field. Each plate of the fluid medium flow field has fluid medium distribution pipes on its first surface facing the corresponding cathode surface or the anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly. A diffusion structure (DS) lies between the membrane electrode assembly and the corresponding plate of the fluid medium flow field and has a first surface in contact with or next to the membrane electrode assembly and a second surface in contact with or next to the corresponding plate of the fluid medium flow field. The diffusion structure includes a high-resistance layer which is hydrophobic and a hydrophilic layer which is relatively hydrophilic compared to the said high-resistance layer, where the said hydrophilic layer lies next to the corresponding plate of the fluid medium flow field. The diffusion structure can have a hydrophilic layer next to the corresponding plate of the fluid medium flow field and a structural layer, where the hydrophilic layer has relatively higher permeability than the structural layer, and the structural layer is the support layer which is more rigid than the hydrophilic layer.
EFFECT: improved diffusion structure.
13 cl, 5 dwg
