Patent ID: 7718295

Claim:
A method of preparing an interconnect, comprising: providing a conductive base sheet including a first face and a second face opposite the first face; selecting a first geometric configuration for a single anode gas flow passage in the first face for fluid flow in the interconnect therethrough, said fluid flow entering and exiting the first geometric configuration at the outer perimeter of the interconnect; preparing the single anode gas flow passage in the first face, the first face defining the first geometric configuration, and the first geometric configuration further defining a plurality of anode standing surfaces thereon, and the plurality of anode standing surfaces further defining a plurality of anode gas flow passages thereabout wherein each anode standing surface is encircled by the anode gas flow passages, and each anode standing surface including a anode surface contact area; selecting a second geometric configuration for a single cathode gas flow passage in the second face for fluid flow in the interconnect therethrough, said fluid flow entering and exiting the second geometric configuration along the outer perimeter of the interconnect; and preparing the single cathode gas flow passage in the second face, the second face defining the second geometric configuration, and the second geometric configuration further defining a plurality of cathode standing surfaces thereon, and the plurality of cathode standing surfaces further defining a plurality of cathode gas flow passages thereabout wherein each cathode standing surface is encircled by the cathode gas flow passages, and each cathode standing surface including a cathode surface contact area; wherein the step of preparing said single anode gas flow passage further includes the anode standing surfaces being arranged in a plurality of parallel, spaced rows in the first geometric configuration, and the plurality of parallel rows comprise a repeating parallel row pattern including a first row of anode standing surfaces and a second row of anode standing surfaces, and the anode standing surfaces in the first row are in alignment to anode standing surfaces in the second row in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement of the plurality of parallel rows; and wherein the steps of preparing said single anode and cathode gas flow passage region further includes the step of forming the plurality of anode and cathode gas flow passages on the respective first and second face thereon by etching.