Patent ID: 7807317

Claim:
An anode electrode for use in a fuel cell, comprising a stacked structure including, in sequence: (a) a catalyst layer; (b) a hydrophobic, microporous layer (“MPL”); (c) a porous gas diffusion layer (“GDL”); and (d) an anode plate with at least one recessed fuel supply-fuel/gas exhaust channel formed in a surface thereof facing said GDL; wherein said stacked structure further comprises: (e) at least one hydrophobic region distinct from said MPL, said at least one distinct hydrophobic region formed on a surface of said GDL facing said anode plate and extending partway into said at least one recessed channel of said anode plate, said at least one recessed channel forms a serpentine path in said surface of said anode plate extending from a fuel supply inlet to a fuel/gas exhaust outlet, said at least one hydrophobic region is a single region extending continuously along said serpentine path of said at least one recessed channel from said fuel supply inlet to said fuel/gas exhaust outlet, and wherein, a width dimension of said single region progressively decreases along said serpentine path of said at least one recessed channel from said fuel supply inlet to said fuel/gas exhaust outlet.