Patent ID: 7344793

Claim:
An electrode assembly for solid oxide fuel cells, comprising: an electrolyte member defining a cathode side and an anode side and having an active area and an edge portion; a cathode disposed on said cathode side; an anode disposed on said anode side; and at least one electrolyte support member positioned adjacent to said edge portion of said electrolyte and having an opening positioned over said active area, wherein said electrolyte further includes via lines for communicating said anode and said cathode through said electrolyte, wherein said at least one electrolyte support member includes ribs extending along said via lines, wherein said at least one electrolyte support member has side members extending along said edge portion, and wherein said ribs are provided as a grid extending between said side members, wherein said grid is defined by a first group of ribs extending between said side members in a first direction and a second group of ribs extending between said side members in a second direction whereby said first group of ribs and said second group of ribs define points of intersection.