Patent ID: 6946215

Claim:
A fuel cell assembly comprising: at least one fuel cell comprising a. an anode and a cathode held in a spaced apart relationship by at least one spacer element comprising an electrically insulating material; b. an electrolyte comprising a molten salt having a hydride ion conductance number greater than about 0.95 at a fuel cell operating temperature, said electrolyte disposed between, and in contact with, said anode and said cathode; c. a fuel gas inlet for delivering a fuel gas to said electrolyte, wherein said fuel gas inlet is adjacent to said cathode; d. a oxidizing gas inlet for delivering a oxidizing gas to said electrolyte, wherein said oxidizing gas inlet is adjacent to said anode; and e. an exhaust port in fluid communication with said anode; wherein said oxidizing gas and fuel gas react to produce water and free electrons.