A dehydrogenation method for hydrogen storage materials, which is executed by a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a hydrogen storage material tank, a heating unit, a fuel cell, a pump, a water thermal management unit and a heat recovery unit. The described dehydrogenation method utilizes the heating unit and the heat recovery unit to provide thermal energy to the hydrogen storage material tank, so that hydrogen storage material is heated to the dehydrogenation temperature. The pump extracts hydrogen from the hydrogen storage material tank, so that the hydrogen storage material is under negative pressure (i.e. H.sub.2 absolute pressure below 1 atm), according to which the hydrogen storage material is dehydrogenated, and the dehydrogenation efficiency and the amount of hydrogen release are improved. The method n can reduce the dehydrogenation temperature of the hydrogen storage material, and reduce the thermal energy consumption for heating the hydrogen storage material.

An illustrative example fuel cell device includes a cell stack assembly of a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode. A pressure plate is situated near one end of the cell stack assembly. An intermediate component is situated between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate. The intermediate component includes a porous material in at least two fluid reservoirs and a barrier between the two fluid reservoirs to prevent fluid communication between the reservoirs.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes at least one cooler and a plurality of fuel cells each having an anode and a cathode. Each of the anodes includes an anode flow plate configured to allow fuel to flow through the anode. The anode flow plates have a respective flow resistance that varies among at least some of the anodes based on a distance between the corresponding anode and the cooler.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes at least one cooler and a plurality of fuel cells each having an anode and a cathode. Each of the anodes includes an anode flow plate configured to allow fuel to flow through the anode. The anode flow plates have a respective flow resistance that varies among at least some of the anodes based on a distance between the corresponding anode and the cooler.

A fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack. A pressure plate is arranged on one side of the fuel cell stack. The pressure plate includes a hole, and a tie rod assembly has a tie rod received in the hole. A nut with a conical surface is secured to the tie rod. An isolator is arranged in the hole between the tie rod assembly and the pressure plate. The isolator has a conical portion, and the conical surface engages the conical portion to provide a conical interface. The tie rod assembly applies a clamp load on the fuel cell stack via the conical interface.

A hybrid fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a first polymeric proton exchange membrane, a second polymeric proton exchange membrane, and an acidic liquid electrolyte layer disposed between the first and second proton exchange membranes. A method of producing electricity with the fuel cell is also disclosed.

A hybrid fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a first polymeric proton exchange membrane, a second polymeric proton exchange membrane, and an acidic liquid electrolyte layer disposed between the first and second proton exchange membranes. A method of producing electricity with the fuel cell is also disclosed.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of cells respectively including at least an electrolyte layer, an anode flow plate on one side of the electrolyte layer, and a cathode flow plate on an opposite side of the electrolyte layer. At least one cooler is situated adjacent a first one of the cells. The cooler is closer to that first one of the cells than it is to a second one of the cells. The cathode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels and the anode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels. The anode flow plates respectively include some of the flow channels in a condensation zone of the fuel cell assembly. The flow channels of the anode flow plate in the condensation zone of the first one of the cells have a first flow capacity. The flow channels of the anode flow plate of the second one of the cells that are in the condensation zone have a second flow capacity. The second flow capacity is greater than the first flow capacity.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of cells respectively including at least an electrolyte layer, an anode flow plate on one side of the electrolyte layer, and a cathode flow plate on an opposite side of the electrolyte layer. At least one cooler is situated adjacent a first one of the cells. The cooler is closer to that first one of the cells than it is to a second one of the cells. The cathode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels and the anode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels. The anode flow plates respectively include some of the flow channels in a condensation zone of the fuel cell assembly. The flow channels of the anode flow plate in the condensation zone of the first one of the cells have a first flow capacity. The flow channels of the anode flow plate of the second one of the cells that are in the condensation zone have a second flow capacity. The second flow capacity is greater than the first flow capacity.

A fuel cell catalyst and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The fuel cell catalyst includes: a support including titanium suboxide and carbon; and an active material supported on the support and including iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru), and yttrium (Y). The active material is represented by the following Formula 1: [Formula 1] IrRu.sub.aY.sub.b, wherein a is between 1 and 5 (1≤a≤5), and b is between 0.1 and 2 (0.1≤b≤2).