Patent ID: 7592089

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly having a membrane, a first catalytic layer on a first face of said membrane and a second catalytic layer on a second face of said membrane; a first bipolar plate assembly adjacent said first catalytic layer and in electrical contact therewith, said first bipolar plate assembly including: a first gas distribution layer having a plurality of porous, reactant gas flow channels extending transversely through said first gas distribution layer in a generally parallel orientation, a first face of said first gas distribution layer confronting said first catalytic layer such that said plurality of porous, reactant gas flow channels are in fluid communication with said first catalytic layer; and a first non-porous impermeable, conductive separator plate secured to a second face of said first gas distribution layer; a second bipolar plate assembly adjacent said second catalytic layer and in electrical contact therewith, said second bipolar plate assembly including: a second gas distribution layer having a plurality of porous, reactant gas flow channels extending transversely through said second gas distribution layer in a generally parallel orientation, a first face of said second gas distribution layer confronting said second catalytic layer such that said plurality of porous, reactant gas flow channels are in fluid communication with said second catalytic layer; and a second non-porous impermeable, conductive separator plate secured to a second face of said second gas distribution layer.