Patent ID: 8492053

Claim:
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly comprising a catalytic anode configured to accept a hydrogen-bearing reactant, a catalytic cathode configured to accept an oxygen-bearing reactant and a medium cooperative with the anode and the cathode such that upon catalytic transformation of the reactants, the positively-charged one of the catalytically-transformed reactants travels from the anode to the cathode through the medium prior to reacting with the negatively-charged one of the catalytically-transformed reactants; a metal plate fluidly cooperative with the membrane electrode assembly and having at least one surface thereon that defines a plurality of channels for directing flow of at least one of the reactants therethrough; and an activated carbon coating disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the at least one surface, the activated carbon coating having a surface resistance of less than about 20 mΩ·cm 2 , the surface resistance being stable.