(JP10289723-A)      A fuel cell comprises: (A) a cell including an electrolyte member positioned between an anode layer and a cathode layer; (B) a pair of current collectors, each contacting one of the electrode layers, wherein one collector(s) includes (a) a thin porous substrate and (b) a hydrophilic material, wherein (b) is provided either to holes of (a) or to surfaces of skeleton elements of (a), so that hydrophilic areas formed by (b) successively pass through (a) between both surfaces of (a); (C) a first channel member which includes channels which face the anode layer with one of the pair of current collectors in between; and (D) a second channel member which includes channels which face the cathode layer with the other one of the pair of current collectors in between, wherein the hydrophilic areas of the current collector(s) are exposed to channels of (C) and/or (D). Also claimed are: such a fuel cell in which, in (B), (b) is loaded into through openings which are established to pass through (a) between both surfaces of (a); a cell structure element, which is a structural unit of a power generation element of a fuel cell, comprising (A) and (B); a current collector comprising (a) and (b) as above; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising (A), (C), (D), and (B) in which the current collector(s) comprises (a), (b) and (c) a hydrophobic material, wherein both (b) and (c) are provided to either the holes of (a) or to the surfaces of skeleton elements of (a), so that a gas flow path(s) surrounded by particles of (c) passes through (a) between both surfaces of (a).    ADVANTAGE -   The current collector has high hydrophilic property, making condensation product water and reaction product water move freely in the collector so that reaction gas is not hampered by the water. This maintains reliable gas permeability so cell characteristics such as cell voltage do not decrease and stable power generation is achieved.    (US6083638-A)      A fuel cell comprises: (A) a cell including an electrolyte member positioned between an anode layer and a cathode layer; (B) a pair of current collectors, each contacting one of the electrode layers, wherein one collector(s) includes (a) a thin porous substrate and (b) a hydrophilic material, wherein (b) is provided either to holes of (a) or to surfaces of skeleton elements of (a), so that hydrophilic areas formed by (b) successively pass through (a) between both surfaces of (a); (C) a first channel member which includes channels which face the anode layer with one of the pair of current collectors in between; and (D) a second channel member which includes channels which face the cathode layer with the other one of the pair of current collectors in between, wherein the hydrophilic areas of the current collector(s) are exposed to channels of (C) and/or (D). Also claimed are: such a fuel cell in which, in (B), (b) is loaded into through openings which are established to pass through (a) between both surfaces of (a); a cell structure element, which is a structural unit of a power generation element of a fuel cell, comprising (A) and (B); a current collector comprising (a) and (b) as above; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising (A), (C), (D), and (B) in which the current collector(s) comprises (a), (b) and (c) a hydrophobic material, wherein both (b) and (c) are provided to either the holes of (a) or to the surfaces of skeleton elements of (a), so that a gas flow path(s) surrounded by particles of (c) passes through (a) between both surfaces of (a).    ADVANTAGE -   The current collector has high hydrophilic property, making condensation product water and reaction product water move freely in the collector so that reaction gas is not hampered by the water. This maintains reliable gas permeability so cell characteristics such as cell voltage do not decrease and stable power generation is achieved.