Patent ID: 6989215

Claim:
A fuel cell layer comprising: a. a fuel plenum comprising fuel; b. an oxidant plenum comprising oxidant; c. a plurality of fuel cells, wherein each fuel cell comprises: i. a porous substrate communicating with said fuel plenum and said oxidant plenum, wherein said porous substrate further comprises a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side; ii. a channel formed using said porous substrate, wherein said channel comprises a first channel wall and a second channel wall; iii. an anode formed from a first catalyst layer disposed on the porous substrate of said first channel wall; iv. a cathode formed from a second catalyst layer disposed on the porous substrate of said second channel wall; v. electrolyte disposed in at least a portion of said channel contacting the anode and the cathode preventing transfer of fuel to the cathode and preventing transfer of oxidant to the anode; vi. a first coating disposed on at least a portion of said porous substrate to prevent fuel from entering a portion of at least a portion of said porous substrate; vii. a second coating disposed on at least a portion of said porous substrate to prevent oxidant from entering at least a portion of said porous substrate; viii. a first sealant barrier disposed on the first side and the second sealant barrier disposed on the second side; ix. a positive electrical connection disposed on said first side; and x. a negative electrical connection disposed on said second side; d. and wherein said plurality of fuel cells comprise at least a first fuel cell connected to at least a second fuel cell at said sealant barriers forming a fuel cell assembly which is connected to said fuel plenum and to said oxidant plenum, and wherein said fuel cell assembly generates a current to drive an external load.