Patent ID: 7288334

Claim:
A fuel cell stack formed by stacking an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators, and terminal plates in a stacking direction such that said electrolyte electrode assembly and separators are stacked alternately, and said terminal plates are provided at opposite ends in said stacking direction of said fuel cell stack, said electrolyte electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode, wherein each of said terminal plates has an electron conductive area, a passage area including at least one of a reactant gas passage and a coolant passage, and a terminal connected to said electron conductive area for collecting electrical energy from said fuel cell stack; and; said electron conductive area is made of a composite of porous metal and resin and said passage area is made of an insulating resin; and said electron conductive area has an outer density region having a first density and an inner density region, distinct from said outer density region, disposed adjacent to said terminal and having a second density, wherein said first density is less than said second density, such that the density increases from said outer density region to said inner density region in order to increase the amount of electricity collected by the terminal.