Patent ID: 7569290

Claim:
A method for assembling a flat panel direct methanol fuel cell, the method comprising: providing an integrated cathode electrode sheet comprising a first substrate, a plurality of cathode electrode areas, and a first conductive via through hole, wherein the cathode electrode areas are electroplated on both the front and the backside of the first substrate and have a plurality of apertures therein, wherein the first conductive via through hole is disposed outside the cathode electrode areas and is electronically connected to the respective cathode electrode areas with a conductive wire; providing a plurality of proton exchange membranes corresponding to the plurality of cathode electrode areas; providing an intermediate bonding layer comprising at least one bonding sheet, wherein the intermediate bonding layer comprises a plurality of openings for respectively accommodating the plurality of proton exchange membranes, and a second conductive via through hole that is aligned with the first conductive via through hole; providing an integrated anode electrode sheet comprising a second substrate, a plurality of anode electrode areas corresponding to the plurality of cathode electrode areas, and a third conductive via through hole corresponding to the first conductive via through hole; stacking the integrated cathode electrode sheet, the plurality of proton exchange membranes, the intermediate bonding layer, and the integrate anode electrode sheet in order; aligning and penetrating the first conductive via through hole, the second conductive via through hole, and the third conductive via through hole by using a metal plug; utilizing the metal plug to align, conduct and to fix the first conductive via through hole, the second conductive via through hole, and the third conductive via through hole in place for forming a bipolar/MEA assembly; and combining the bipolar/MEA assembly with a fuel container.