Patent ID: 7344792

Claim:
A fuel cell stack comprising an electrical contacting device, wherein: the electrical contacting device comprises: a plurality of electrical contacts, each comprising a non-metallic, electrically conductive elastomer composition, wherein each electrical contact is layered and comprises alternating electrically conductive elastomer composition layers and electrically non-conductive elastomer layers; and a support on which the electrical contacts are mounted, wherein the support is layered and comprises alternating electrically conductive elastomer composition layers and electrically non-conductive elastomer layers, and wherein each electrically conductive elastomer composition layer of the electrical contacts are connected to, and in line with, an electrically conductive elastomer composition layer of the support and each electrically non-conductive elastomer layer of the electrical contacts are connected to, and in line with, an electrically non-conductive elastomer layer of the support; the electrical contacts are electrically insulated from each other, and the electrical contacts and the support form a comb shape; and the fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies interposed between a plurality of separator plates, wherein the membrane electrode assemblies comprise membrane electrolytes extending from an end of the membrane electrode assemblies and separating the teeth of the comb shaped electrical contacting device.