A direct alcohol fuel cell having an inner housing, and a proton exchange membrane separating an anode section from a cathode section. The anode section contains an anode collection element electrically connected to an anode catalyst that is in diffusive communication with a fuel supply. The cathode section contains a cathode collection element having one or more ventilation holes is electrically connected to a cathode catalyst. An oleophobic filter and/or an anion-exchange membrane is provided, which cathode catalyst via the one or more ventilation holes and the oleophobic filter and/or the anion-exchange membrane is in diffusive communication with a gaseous oxidant. The inner housing has a bottom and walls extending from the bottom to contain the anode section, the PEM and the cathode section, the bottom and/or the walls having holes allowing fluid communication from a fuel supply to the anode section. The fuel cell is suited for microelectronic devices.

The present disclosure provides a separator-integrated gasket and a manufacturing method therefor, with which the likelihood of the gasket peeling away from the separator can be reduced while reducing the number of manufacturing steps. The separator-integrated gasket includes gaskets 210, 220 that are provided integrally with a separator 200 forming a fuel cell, wherein the separator 200 is formed from carbon to which a thermoplastic first resin material has been added, and the gaskets 210, 220 are formed from a thermoplastic second resin material that is compatible with the first resin material.

A membrane with high ion selectivity, balancing influence on vanadium transport in all-vanadium redox-flow environment, high physicochemical stability and potentially low cost is an amphoteric ion exchange membrane with defined ratio of anion and cation exchange capacity, in particular for redox flow batteries. The membrane includes a mechanically robust and chemically resistant base polymer film (matrix), ion exchange groups covalently bound to the polymer matrix, being a mixture of anion and cation exchange groups, a comonomer including two anion exchange groups per molecule to yield a ratio of anion exchange groups to cation exchange groups of 1.5-4 (50-300% excess of anion exchange groups over cation exchange groups) to balance transport of positively charged redox-active ions, a quaternary bonded alpha-C atom in comonomers to protect the resulting polymer sterically against chemical degradation. Optionally, additional functional constituents, such as crosslinkers and/or antioxidants are provided.

A membrane with high ion selectivity, balancing influence on vanadium transport in all-vanadium redox-flow environment, high physicochemical stability and potentially low cost is an amphoteric ion exchange membrane with defined ratio of anion and cation exchange capacity, in particular for redox flow batteries. The membrane includes a mechanically robust and chemically resistant base polymer film (matrix), ion exchange groups covalently bound to the polymer matrix, being a mixture of anion and cation exchange groups, a comonomer including two anion exchange groups per molecule to yield a ratio of anion exchange groups to cation exchange groups of 1.5-4 (50-300% excess of anion exchange groups over cation exchange groups) to balance transport of positively charged redox-active ions, a quaternary bonded alpha-C atom in comonomers to protect the resulting polymer sterically against chemical degradation. Optionally, additional functional constituents, such as crosslinkers and/or antioxidants are provided.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it is provided a method of manufacturing a separator comprising:

preparing expansion graphite; pulverizing the expansion graphite; mixing the expansion graphite and polymer; and forming a separator by molding the mixture.

In order to provide a separator for fuel cells, or a current collecting member for fuel cells, which has low contact resistance, excellent corrosion resistance and which can be economically manufactured, and a manufacturing method thereof, this separator for fuel cells comprises a substrate having iron or aluminum as the main component, a gas barrier film formed directly on said substrate and having excellent corrosion resistance, and a conductive resin film formed on the gas barrier film and containing a conductive ceramics or graphite particles having a particle diameter of 1-20 μm.

In order to provide a separator for fuel cells, or a current collecting member for fuel cells, which has low contact resistance, excellent corrosion resistance and which can be economically manufactured, and a manufacturing method thereof, this separator for fuel cells comprises a substrate having iron or aluminum as the main component, a gas barrier film formed directly on said substrate and having excellent corrosion resistance, and a conductive resin film formed on the gas barrier film and containing a conductive ceramics or graphite particles having a particle diameter of 1-20 μm.

A bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes a laminate of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a first outer ply. The CFRP includes a resin and carbon fibers. The first outer ply is arranged at a first lateral surface of the laminate, wherein the laminate includes a first plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The first outer ply includes a first groove, wherein the first groove is configured to define a first gas diffusion channel. At least some of the first plurality of CNTs extend through the first outer ply in a direction transversely to the first lateral surface of the laminate.

A bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes a laminate of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a first outer ply. The CFRP includes a resin and carbon fibers. The first outer ply is arranged at a first lateral surface of the laminate, wherein the laminate includes a first plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The first outer ply includes a first groove, wherein the first groove is configured to define a first gas diffusion channel. At least some of the first plurality of CNTs extend through the first outer ply in a direction transversely to the first lateral surface of the laminate.

A fuel cell plate for distributing a reactant at an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell has a plate body in which at least one flow field is incorporated, comprising at least one duct. The plate body has hygroscopic and electrically conductive properties.