Patent ID: 7968251
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: C23C,C25B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell comprising: a solid polymer electrolyte having a permeable body containing a cation exchange membrane; an electrode in electrical communication with said electrolyte; and an electrically conductive contact element having a major working surface facing said electrode that defines a plurality of reactant gas channels separated by a plurality of lands, said electrically conductive contact element having an electrically conductive coating deposited on and contiguously covering said plurality of lands of said major working surface, wherein said electrically conductive coating includes a doped metal oxide composition which has a resistivity of less than 0.001 ohm-cm, and wherein said electrically conductive coating provides electrical conductivity between said plurality of lands and said electrode, and wherein said coating provides a protective layer on said contact element from direct contact with a reactant gas in said plurality of reactant gas channels.