MINIATURE FUEL CELLS COMPRISED OF MINIATURE CARBON FLUIDIC PLATES

摘要

An improved miniature fuel cell comprising fluidic plates having fluidic channel walls and a separator formed from high-temperature polymers. The fluid plates are heated at temperatures sufficient to convert the plates to conductive carbon structures. In one embodiment, the fluidic channel walls and separator are formed separately and bonded together with binder material that converts to conductive carbon during the heat treatment process and acts as a physical and electrical binder. The conductive carbon fluidic plates are assembled with a membrane, electrodes, catalyst support and gas diffusion layers, and gas inlets and outlets to form a fuel cell structure. The fuel cell structure is preferably sealed with an epoxy. The membrane is preferably formed from a hygroscopic material and is sized larger than the fluidic plates such that a portion of the membrane remains exposed to the environment exterior to the assembled fuel cell.