Fuel cell stack liquid electrolyte migration prevention arrangement

摘要

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells juxtaposed with one another in the stack and each including a pair of plate-shaped anode and cathode electrodes that face one another, and a quantity of liquid electrolyte present at least between the electrodes. A number of separator plates that are substantially impermeable to liquids but wettable by electrolyte is interposed between respective successive electrodes of adjacent ones of the fuel cells. Each such separator plate has edge portions situated at a periphery of the fuel stack and having a peripheral surface, and marginal surfaces respectively facing the successive electrodes and forming respective interfaces therewith. Migration of any electrolyte that may be present at one of the interfaces to the other of the interfaces and thus from one to the other of the adjacent fuel cells is prevented by providing a layer of a material that is non-wettable by the electrolyte at least on the peripheral surface of the separator plate, but advantageously also on the marginal surfaces.