Planar fuel cell

摘要

A planar fuel cell (20) is provided, including a membrane electrode assembly (23) sandwiched between two current collector assemblies (21, 22). The membrane electrode assembly is a single sheet of a polymer electrolyte membrane with an array of anodes (27) on one side and an array of corresponding cathodes (28) on the other side. The current collectors (25) can be supported by a plastic frame (24), and they have an interconnect tab (26) that provides an electrical pathway to the exterior of the membrane electrode assembly. The interconnect tab is situated to provide electron transfer between the anodes and the cathodes such that the interconnect tab does not traverse the thickness of the polymer electrolyte membrane. When the planar fuel cell is assembled, the interconnect tab is sealed to prevent leaking of fuel or oxidant gases. Fuel is distributed (36) to only one side of the membrane electrode assembly and oxidant is distributed (36) only to the other side.