A method for producing a bipolar plate for a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly comprises providing a first fuel cell half-plate, which has a circumferential plate edge which has a first media channel offset inwardly from the plate edge and also a first flow field, providing a second fuel cell half-plate, which has a plate edge corresponding to the plate edge of the first fuel cell half-plate, and which has a second media channel offset inwardly from its plate edge and also a second flow field, the second media channel being aligned with the first media channel when the two fuel cell half-plates are stacked one above the other in perfect alignment, and joining the first fuel cell half-plate to the second fuel cell half-plate along a media-channel joint line framing the media channels, wherein a joint-line-free sealing region of the fuel cell half-plates borders the plate edges, on which a seal is fixed or is to be fixed, and the first fuel cell half-plate is joined to the second fuel cell half-plate along an additional frame joint line adjoining the media channel joint line or overlapping same, at least some sections of said additional frame joint line being offset along the plate edges in relation to the sealing region.

A metal separator plate for an electrochemical system, having at least a first laser-surface-treated region with a first passivation layer and a second region with a native or reconstructed passivation layer, wherein, as a result of the laser surface treatment, the first passivation layer has: a charge carrier density that is increased by at least 10%, and a surface area that is no more than 5% larger in relation to the native or reconstructed passivation layer. The present disclosure further relates to methods for producing and characterizing such a separator plate.

A metal separator plate for an electrochemical system, having at least a first laser-surface-treated region with a first passivation layer and a second region with a native or reconstructed passivation layer, wherein, as a result of the laser surface treatment, the first passivation layer has: a charge carrier density that is increased by at least 10%, and a surface area that is no more than 5% larger in relation to the native or reconstructed passivation layer. The present disclosure further relates to methods for producing and characterizing such a separator plate.

The fuel cell comprises for each MEA: an anodic volume for the circulation of an anodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and a bipolar plate and a cathodic volume for the circulation of a cathodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and another bipolar plate, one of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed by a cordon of a sealing material extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA, wherein the sealing material is in direct contact with the MEA and the corresponding bipolar plate; wherein the other of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed off from the fluid circulating in the volume by a direct contact line of the MEA with the corresponding bipolar plate, the contact line extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA.

The fuel cell comprises for each MEA: an anodic volume for the circulation of an anodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and a bipolar plate and a cathodic volume for the circulation of a cathodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and another bipolar plate, one of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed by a cordon of a sealing material extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA, wherein the sealing material is in direct contact with the MEA and the corresponding bipolar plate; wherein the other of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed off from the fluid circulating in the volume by a direct contact line of the MEA with the corresponding bipolar plate, the contact line extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA.

A cell includes a support substrate, electricity generation element parts that are arrayed at locations on a principal face of the support substrate and include a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode, and electrical connection parts that are each provided between adjacent electricity generation element parts and electrically connect a fuel electrode of one of the electricity generation element parts and an air electrode of another of the electricity generation element parts, wherein an electrical connection part bridges over the adjacent electricity generation element parts and includes air electrode collector parts, and the air electrode collector parts include a first site on an electricity generation element part on a side of a first end, a second site on the electricity generation element part other than the third end part, and a third site on a side of a second end.

A cell includes a support substrate, electricity generation element parts that are arrayed at locations on a principal face of the support substrate and include a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode, and electrical connection parts that are each provided between adjacent electricity generation element parts and electrically connect a fuel electrode of one of the electricity generation element parts and an air electrode of another of the electricity generation element parts, wherein an electrical connection part bridges over the adjacent electricity generation element parts and includes air electrode collector parts, and the air electrode collector parts include a first site on an electricity generation element part on a side of a first end, a second site on the electricity generation element part other than the third end part, and a third site on a side of a second end.

An electrochemical, media-guiding system, a contact element for electrically and mechanically contacting such a plate, and a transmission device containing such a contact element. The present disclosure further relates to the production of such a plate or such a contact element. A plate having at least one contact point forming a voltage take-off point, a current supply point, and/or a current take-off point. The at least one contact point having a laser-surface-treated region.

An electrochemical, media-guiding system, a contact element for electrically and mechanically contacting such a plate, and a transmission device containing such a contact element. The present disclosure further relates to the production of such a plate or such a contact element. A plate having at least one contact point forming a voltage take-off point, a current supply point, and/or a current take-off point. The at least one contact point having a laser-surface-treated region.

A fuel cell separator member forming a power generation cell includes a first separator, and a load receiver member disposed in a manner to protrude outward from the first separator. Reinforcement ribs extending in a direction in which the load receiver member protrudes are provided in a part of an outer peripheral portion of the first separator, the part being adjacent to a joint portion.