Patent ID: 7951509

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell stack, comprising: a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells, wherein each solid oxide fuel cell comprises an electrolyte located between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode; a plurality of gas separators; and at least one compliant cathode contact material comprising a metallic felt, a metallic foam, a metallic mesh, an electrically conductive glass or an electrically conductive ceramic felt located between at least one of the plurality of gas separators and a cathode electrode of an adjacent solid oxide fuel cell; wherein: fuel inlet and outlet riser openings extend through the electrolyte, wherein the cathode electrode is located closer to the fuel inlet and outlet riser openings than the compliant cathode contact material; and at least a portion of a major surface of the cathode electrode located adjacent to the fuel inlet and outlet riser is not covered by the at least one compliant cathode contact material.