METHOD OF MANUFACTURING MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY AND MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly which suppresses the waste of an electrode catalyst layer, and to provide a membrane electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus.SOLUTION: A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell including an electrode catalyst layer on both sides of an electrolyte membrane includes a step for preparing the electrolyte membrane in a strip form, and a step for forming a second electrode catalyst layer on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, after forming the first electrode catalyst layer on one side of the strip electrolyte membrane. Defect in at least any one of the electrolyte membrane and first electrode catalyst layer is detected, and when the defect is detected, at least any one of the first electrode catalyst layer and second electrode catalyst layer, which are formed after detection of the defect, is formed while avoiding the part where the defect is detected. 【課題】電極触媒層の無駄を抑制する膜電極接合体の製造方法および膜電極接合体製造装置。【解決手段】電解質膜の両面に電極触媒層を備えた燃料電池用膜電極接合体を製造する方法であって、前記電解質膜を帯状の形態で用意する工程と、前記帯状の電解質膜の一方の面に第１の電極触媒層を形成した後で、前記電解質膜の他方の面に第２の電極触媒層を形成する工程と、を備え、前記電解質膜および前記第１の電極触媒層の少なくともいずれか一方の欠陥を検出し、前記欠陥が検出された場合、該欠陥の検出より後に形成される前記第１の電極触媒層および前記第２の電極触媒層のうちの少なくともいずれか一方は、前記欠陥が検出された部位を避けて形成する、燃料電池用膜電極接合体の製造方法。【選択図】図１