Patent ID: 7981562

Claim:
A fuel cell stack comprising: an electricity generating element, which generates electrical energy through a reaction of a fuel and oxygen, wherein the electricity generating element comprises: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA); a first separator composed of a first electrically conductive material, positioned at a first side of the MEA, and having a heat sink element positioned therein for dissipating heat generated through the reaction of the fuel and oxygen; a second separator positioned at a second side of the MEA, the second side being opposite to the first side; and a conducting element positioned between the MEA and each of the first separator and the second separator, the conducting element allowing a flow of electrons generated in the MEA, the conducting element comprising: a gas diffusion layer positioned between the MEA and each of the first separator and the second separator; a terminal element composed of a third electrically conductive material extending beyond an edge of the gas diffusion layer electrically coupled with the first separator and the second separator; and a sealing member located between the gas diffusion layer and the terminal element to prevent the fuel and oxygen from diffusing to an outside of the MEA; wherein the heat sink element has a slit; an adjacent electricity generating element; and a connector composed of a second electrically conductive material, positioned between the electricity generating element and the adjacent electricity generating element to electrically connect the electricity generating elements; wherein the connector penetrates through the slit of the heat sink element; wherein the terminal element covers an entire portion of the connector exposed by the slit; and wherein the first electrically conductive material, the second electrically conductive material, and the third electrically conductive material are different from one another.