Molten carbonate fuel cell

Claim 1

A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising unit cells each having an electrolyte layer in a plate-like form which contains a carbonate melted at an operating temperature, a cathode and an anode which are formed in tight contact to sandwich the electrolyte layer and which respectively comprise plates of porous material, an element for supplying fuel gas to the interface between the cathode and the electrolyte layer through pores in the cathode, and another element for supplying an oxidant gas to the interface between the anode and the electrolyte layer through pores of the anode, characterized in that each of said cathode and said anode comprises a bilayered structure having a first porous layer which is in contact with said electrolyte layer and a second porous layer which is located at the side of said element for supplying said fuel or oxidant gas and which comprises a sintered layer of a fibrous material, pores in at least a portion of said first porous layer, which is adjacent to said electrolyte layer, have a size capable of capillary action of the molten carbonate and pores of said second porous layer have a size not capable of capillary action of the molten carbonate.