Patent ID: 7687175

Claim:
A stacked device comprising: a first polymer membrane defining opposing cathode and anode faces on opposite sides of said first polymer membrane; a first layer of catalyst defining opposing inside and outside faces on opposite sides of said first layer of catalyst, said inside face engaging said cathode face of said first polymer membrane; a second layer of catalyst defining opposing inside and outside faces on opposite sides of said second layer of catalyst, said inside face engaging said anode face of said first polymer membrane; a first layer of gas diffusion media defining opposing inside and outside faces on opposite sides of said first layer of gas diffusion media, said inside face engaging said outside face of said first layer of catalyst; a second layer of gas diffusion media defining opposing inside and outside faces on opposite sides of said second layer of gas diffusion media, said inside face engaging said outside face of said second layer of catalyst; a first hybrid bipolar plate assembly comprising a first metallic anode plate defining opposing inside and outside major faces on opposite sides of said first metallic anode plate, the inside major face of the first metallic anode directly engaging the outside face of the second layer of gas diffusion media, wherein at least one of the inside and outside major faces of the first metallic anode plate comprises a first corrosion-preventive layer comprising at least one of gold, silver, and alloys of each, and a first composite cathode plate engaging the outside major face of the first metallic anode plate, wherein said first composite cathode plate comprises a first polymeric material; and a second hybrid bipolar plate assembly comprising a second composite cathode plate defining opposing inside and outside major faces on opposite sides of the second composite cathode plate, the inside major face of the second composite cathode plate engaging the outside face of the first layer of gas diffusion media, wherein said second composite cathode plate comprises a second polymeric material, and a second metallic anode plate defining opposing inside and outside major faces on opposite sides of said second metallic anode plate, the inside major face of the second metallic anode plate engaging the outside major face of the second composite cathode plate, wherein at least one of the inside and outside major faces of the second metallic anode plate comprises a second corrosion-preventive layer comprising at least one of gold, silver, and alloys of each.