Patent ID: 7601450

Claim:
In a fuel cell having fuel cell sub-assemblies for reacting oxygen and fuel to produce electricity, said fuel cell sub-assemblies including an electrode, an electrical interconnect coupled to at least one adjacent element, said interconnect comprising: a) a peripheral frame having a central opening, said peripheral frame formed of a first material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to that of said at least one adjacent element; and b) a central portion disposed in said central opening adjacent to said electrode as a whole and attached to said peripheral frame, said central portion formed of a second material that is resistant to corrosion, wherein said second material is a nickel-based superalloy, wherein said central portion is not said at least one adjacent element, and wherein said electrical interconnect is electrically conductive and configured to electrically connect said fuel cell sub-assemblies and seal against leakage of said oxygen and said fuel.