Patent ID: 8026017

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising: a single layer mono-polar ion exchange membrane having opposed first and second faces; a base electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of a basic electrolyte solution in contact with at least a portion of said first face of said single layer membrane; an acid electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of an acidic electrolyte in contact with at least a portion of said second face of said single layer membrane; an anode in spaced apart relationship with said first face of said membrane; a basic electrolyte solution disposed between said anode and said first face of said membrane; said basic electrolyte solution comprising an alkali metal hydroxide; a cathode in a spaced apart relationship with said second face of said membrane; and an acidic electrolyte disposed between said cathode and said second face of said membrane; said acidic electrolyte comprises phosphoric acid; a fuel reservoir in operative communication with said anode, said reservoir being operable to deliver a fuel to the basic electrolyte disposed between said anode and said first face of said membrane; an oxidizer reservoir in operative communication with said cathode, said reservoir being operable to deliver an oxidizer to the acidic electrolyte disposed between said cathode and said second face of said membrane; a first current collector in electrical communication with said anode, and a second current collector in electrical communication with said cathode.