Patent ID: 7270686
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a fuel cell, said fuel cell comprising a set of individual cells which are electrically connected to one another, each one of said individual cells comprising at least three layers including a membrane layer positioned between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, said process comprising, in succession, the steps of: providing a plurality of substrates, each one of said substrates having a first face, and a second face opposite said first face; forming a plurality of holes in each of a corresponding one of said substrates, such that each one of said holes opens out on said first face and said second face of said corresponding substrate via a first orifice section and a second orifice section, and each one of said holes having a lateral surface; forming individual cells on said lateral surface of each one of said holes; forming, on at least one of said first face and said second face of each substrate, a network of electrical connections and a reactant distribution network, wherein said networks connect said individual cells to one another, forming a base module from an assembly including said substrate, said individual cells, and said networks; a step of assembling at least two base modules adjacent to each other such that said individual cells of each one of said base modules are positioned facing said individual cells of the adjacent one or ones of said base modules, wherein, during the step of forming said plurality of holes, each one of said holes is formed such that at least one of said first and said second orifice sections has a surface area that is smaller than the surface area of at least one cross-section through said hole taken in a plane which is parallel to said opposite faces, and in that, for each hole, said first or second orifice section has a surface area which is smaller than the surface area of the other orifice section.