Patent ID: 8455152

Claim:
An integrated PEM fuel cell, comprising: at least two bipolar plate assemblies, each including: a gas impermeable plate and multiple unidirectional electrically conductive fibers, each fiber having anode fiber ends and cathode fiber ends, the fibers being grouped in longitudinal bundles extending perpendicular to the plate, the anode fiber ends on one side of the plate and the cathode fiber ends on the other side of the plate, each of the fibers being coated in a gas impermeable coating, the coating extending from the plate towards each of the fiber ends, a portion of the fibers adjacent the fiber ends remaining uncoated, the fiber end portions transitioning to uncoated fiber brushes presenting fiber tips, wherein the uncoated fiber brushes comprise micro channels that increase in diameter from the portion of the fibers adjacent the fiber ends towards the fiber tips; the anode side of one of the bipolar plate assemblies facing the cathode side of the other bipolar plate assembly; a membrane electrode assembly, including: an anode catalyst support located on fiber tips of the anode fiber ends and an anode catalyst located on the anode catalyst support; a cathode catalyst support located on fiber tips of the cathode fiber ends and a cathode catalyst located on the cathode catalyst support; and a proton exchange membrane interconnecting the cathode catalyst support and the anode catalyst support.