Patent ID: 6350538
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
A fuel cell comprising:(a) a pair of substantially fluid impermeable separator plates; (b) a pair of fluid distribution layers interposed between said separator plates, each of said fluid distribution layers having two major planar surfaces, at least one of said fluid distribution layers comprising a sealing region and an electrically conductive, fluid permeable active region, said at least one fluid distribution layer comprising thermoplastic polymeric material extending into each of said sealing region and said active region; (c) an ion exchange membrane interposed between at least a portion of said fluid distribution layers; (d) a quantity of electrocatalyst interposed between at least a portion of each of said fluid distribution layers and at least a portion of said membrane, thereby defining said active region; wherein said thermoplastic polymeric material is melt-bonded within said material in said sealing region, thereby rendering said at least one fluid distribution layer substantially fluid impermeable in a direction parallel to said major planar surfaces, in said sealing region.