Polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with a tightening pressure

2 2 2 2 The durability of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is very significantly improved by using a tightening pressure of about 2 to 4 kgf/cmof area of electrode; or a tightening pressure of about 4 to 8 kgf/cmof contact area between electrode and separator plate; or by selecting a value not exceeding about 1.5 mS/cmfor the short-circuit conductivity attributed to the DC resistance component in each unit cell; or by selecting a value not exceeding about 3 mA/cmfor the hydrogen leak current per area of electrode of each MEA. Further, in a method of manufacturing or an inspection method for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, fuel cells having high durability can be efficiently manufactured by removing such MEAs or unit cells using such MEAs or such cell stacks having short-circuit conductivity values and/or hydrogen leak current values exceeding predetermined values, respectively.