Patent ID: 8142951

Claim:
Monopolar end-plate of a fuel cell of the type having a proton-exchange membrane, wherein said end-plate comprises: a cathode or anode monopolar half-plate and a closure plate, wherein the monopolar half-plate is secured to the closure plate, wherein the monopolar half-plate comprises, in a central portion thereof, an active cathode or anode zone and, at a periphery thereof, at least two units for an oxidant and at least two units for a fuel, wherein each of the oxidant units, if the monopolar half-plate is a cathode, or each of the fuel units, if the monopolar half-plate is an anode, comprises at least one channel which opens at an outer side of the active zone in order to allow the circulation of the oxidant, if the monopolar half-plate is a cathode, or fuel, if the monopolar half-plate is an anode, outside the monopolar plate at a side of the monopolar half-plate, and wherein the closure plate comprises, in a central portion thereof, a central zone which is identical to the active zone of the monopolar half-plate except that it is cathodic if the active zone of the monopolar half-plate is anodic and anodic if the active zone of the monopolar half-plate is cathodic, wherein none of the oxidant and fuel units of the monopolar half-plate comprises any opening which opens at an outer side of the central zone of the closure plate, so that the outer side of the central zone of the closure plate cannot be touched by any of the fuel and the oxidant.