A fuel cell includes a plurality of unit cells disposed in a stack. Each unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode and a cathode and a bipolar plate having a cathode side defining a recessed pocket in fluid communication with an air port, an anode side, and coolant channels between the cathode and anode sides. The bipolar plate is disposed against the MEA such that the cathode is disposed over the pocket. A flow guide is disposed in the pocket with a front side facing the MEA and a back side facing a bottom of the pocket. The flow guide has a plurality of embossments.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (1) for a fuel cell stack having two layers (2, 3) which each have an anode-side or cathode-side flow area (9) on their surfaces facing away from one another, wherein aligned media inlet openings (4, 13, 15) and media outlet openings (5, 14, 16) are provided in the two layers (2, 3), wherein each of the media inlet and outlet openings (4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16) are connected to channels (6) between the inner surfaces of the two layers (2, 3) facing toward one another, and wherein the channels (6) assigned to the anode side and the cathode side are each connected to the anode-side or cathode-side flow areas via openings (7) in the respective layer (2, 3). The bipolar plate according to the invention is characterized in that the material of the respective layer (2, 3) is reinforced in the sections (17) opposite to the openings (7) of the other layer (3, 2).

A fuel cell separator having high corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity is provided. This fuel cell separator includes, on a substrate, a composite film containing an antimony-doped tin oxide and a tin-doped indium oxide, in which an element ratio of tin to indium (Sn/In) in the composite film is 1.4 or smaller.

A fuel cell separator having high corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity is provided. This fuel cell separator includes, on a substrate, a composite film containing an antimony-doped tin oxide and a tin-doped indium oxide, in which an element ratio of tin to indium (Sn/In) in the composite film is 1.4 or smaller.

Disclosed is a hydrocarbon-based cross-linked membrane used for the proton exchange membrane of a fuel cell, containing a cross-linked composite mediated by the sulfonate groups of SPPSU and SPOSS. The cross-linked composite may be a cross-linked composite of SPPSU as represented by formula (I) (where a, b, c, and d are each independently an integer of 0-4, and the total of a, b, c, and d is a rational number greater than 1 in terms of the average per repeating unit) and SPOSS as represented by formula (II) (where: each R is independently a hydrogen, a hydroxyl group, a straight or branched C1-20 alkyl or alkoxyl group optionally containing a substituent, or any of the above-mentioned structures; each e is independently an integer of 0-2 for R; x is an integer of 1-20; and the total number of sulfonate groups is a rational number greater than 2 in terms of the average per molecule).

##STR00001##

Methods, apparatus, and systems for improving and/or simplifying one or more seals in a fuel cell stack, such as a vehicle fuel cell stack. In some implementations, a plate or assembly for the stack may be extruded through an extrusion die so as to create a plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of cavities disposed between the top and bottom surfaces. At least a subset of the cavities may be filled with a cavity-filler material distinct from a material used to form the plate, such as a foam material. One or more headers, such as grommet seals, may then be overmolded into the plate to form corresponding conduits between the top surface and the bottom surface of the plate/assembly.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for improving and/or simplifying one or more seals in a fuel cell stack, such as a vehicle fuel cell stack. In some implementations, a plate or assembly for the stack may be extruded through an extrusion die so as to create a plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of cavities disposed between the top and bottom surfaces. At least a subset of the cavities may be filled with a cavity-filler material distinct from a material used to form the plate, such as a foam material. One or more headers, such as grommet seals, may then be overmolded into the plate to form corresponding conduits between the top surface and the bottom surface of the plate/assembly.

A fuel cell includes a plurality of unit cells disposed in a stack. Each unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode and a cathode and a bipolar plate having a cathode side defining a recessed pocket in fluid communication with an air port, an anode side, and coolant channels between the cathode and anode sides. The bipolar plate is disposed against the MEA such that the cathode is disposed over the pocket. A flow guide is disposed in the pocket with a front side facing the MEA and a back side facing a bottom of the pocket. The flow guide has a plurality of embossments.

A fuel cell includes a plurality of unit cells disposed in a stack. Each unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode and a cathode and a bipolar plate having a cathode side defining a recessed pocket in fluid communication with an air port, an anode side, and coolant channels between the cathode and anode sides. The bipolar plate is disposed against the MEA such that the cathode is disposed over the pocket. A flow guide is disposed in the pocket with a front side facing the MEA and a back side facing a bottom of the pocket. The flow guide has a plurality of embossments.

Provided is a fuel cell capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell. In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and the plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. The interconnector part is formed by heating and carbonizing a proton conductive resin in the electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive resin can be heated by laser beam irradiation.