Patent ID: 7569300

Claim:
A fuel cell assembly, comprising: an electrolyte layer ( 13 ); a pair of catalyst electrode layers ( 15 ) interposing said electrolyte layer there between; and a pair of planar separators ( 11 , 12 ) interposing said electrolyte layer and said catalyst electrode layers there between, wherein each said separator of said pair of separators comprises a first surface facing said electrolyte layer and a second surface opposite to said first surface, wherein said first surface comprises at least one recess ( 31 ) through which a fuel fluid or an oxidizer fluid flows so as to contact an associated one of said pair of catalyst electrode layers, wherein said separator further comprises at least one through hole ( 33 ) that extends from said first surface to said second surface of each said separator; a first electroconductive film ( 35 ) disposed across said at least one through hole, wherein said first electroconductive film electrically communicates with said catalyst electrode layer; a second electroconductive film ( 36 ) disposed on the walls of said at least one through hole; and a third electroconductive film ( 37 ) disposed on said second surface of each said separator, wherein said second electroconductive film electrically connects said first electroconductive film and said third electroconductive film to provide electrical continuity through said planar separator.