POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE ELECTROCHEMICAL_CELLS AND STACKS WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED LAYERS

摘要

An electrochemical cell stack comprises a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies interposed between pairs of separator plates. The stack comprises adh esively bonded layers. Preferably each membrane electrode assembly is adhesively bonded to the adjacent pair of separator plates. The adhesive bond between the plate and membr ane electrode assembly preferably provides a substantially gas and liquid-tight seal around the perimeter of the electrochemically active area of the membrane electrode assembl y and around any fluid manifold openings formed therein. Alternatively, or in addition , adjoining pairs of separator plates in an electrochemical cell stack may be adhe sively bonded together. Such pairs of adhesively bonded plates may define cooling space s between neighboring cells. Stacks comprising a plurality of individual cell modu les may be formed, each module comprising a membrane electrode assembly bonded to a pair of separator plates.