A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode and cathode electrodes each comprising a catalyst, a central region and a peripheral region, wherein the peripheral region of the cathode electrode comprises a cathode edge barrier layer; a fluid impermeable seal in contact with at least a portion of the anode and cathode peripheral regions and the cathode edge barrier layer; an anode flow field plate adjacent the anode electrode; and a cathode flow field plate adjacent the cathode electrode, wherein the cathode flow field separator plate comprises a cathode peripheral flow channel and at least one cathode central flow channel; wherein at least a portion of the cathode edge barrier layer traverses at least a portion of the cathode peripheral flow channel.

A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode and cathode electrodes each comprising a catalyst, a central region and a peripheral region, wherein the peripheral region of the cathode electrode comprises a cathode edge barrier layer; a fluid impermeable seal in contact with at least a portion of the anode and cathode peripheral regions and the cathode edge barrier layer; an anode flow field plate adjacent the anode electrode; and a cathode flow field plate adjacent the cathode electrode, wherein the cathode flow field separator plate comprises a cathode peripheral flow channel and at least one cathode central flow channel; wherein at least a portion of the cathode edge barrier layer traverses at least a portion of the cathode peripheral flow channel.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising an anode plate with anode gas channels and a cathode plate with cathode gas channels, said plates having an active region and supply regions and being arranged one over the other such that the gas channels form coolant channels. The aim of the invention is to improve such a bipolar plate such that the flow conditions of reactants and coolant in the bipolar plate are optimized. This is achieved in that the height and/or the width of the cathode gas channels increase(s) from a first side of the active region to a second side of the active region, and the height and/or the width of the anode gas channels decrease(s) from the first side of the active region to the second side of the active region, wherein the cross-sectional area and/or the hydraulic diameter of the cathode gas channels increases, and the cross-sectional area and/or the hydraulic diameter of the anode gas channels decreases. The invention additionally relates to a fuel cell stack and to a vehicle.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising an anode plate with anode gas channels and a cathode plate with cathode gas channels, said plates having an active region and supply regions and being arranged one over the other such that the gas channels form coolant channels. The aim of the invention is to improve such a bipolar plate such that the flow conditions of reactants and coolant in the bipolar plate are optimized. This is achieved in that the height and/or the width of the cathode gas channels increase(s) from a first side of the active region to a second side of the active region, and the height and/or the width of the anode gas channels decrease(s) from the first side of the active region to the second side of the active region, wherein the cross-sectional area and/or the hydraulic diameter of the cathode gas channels increases, and the cross-sectional area and/or the hydraulic diameter of the anode gas channels decreases. The invention additionally relates to a fuel cell stack and to a vehicle.

A fuel cell having an ion-selective separator, a gas diffusion layer and a separator plate, is provided. The separator plate forms, together with the gas diffusion layer, at least one gas-conducting flow field. At least one convergent duct section and at least one divergent duct section are formed in the flow field, wherein the convergent duct section lies adjacent to the divergent duct section. A barrier is provided between the convergent duct section and the divergent duct section such that the gas flows at least partially through the gas diffusion layer in order to pass directly from the convergent duct section into the divergent duct section. At least one additional convergent duct section, at least one additional divergent duct section and at least one additional barrier are provided downstream of the convergent duct section and/or downstream of the divergent duct section.

A fuel cell having an ion-selective separator, a gas diffusion layer and a separator plate, is provided. The separator plate forms, together with the gas diffusion layer, at least one gas-conducting flow field. At least one convergent duct section and at least one divergent duct section are formed in the flow field, wherein the convergent duct section lies adjacent to the divergent duct section. A barrier is provided between the convergent duct section and the divergent duct section such that the gas flows at least partially through the gas diffusion layer in order to pass directly from the convergent duct section into the divergent duct section. At least one additional convergent duct section, at least one additional divergent duct section and at least one additional barrier are provided downstream of the convergent duct section and/or downstream of the divergent duct section.

An electrolyzer or unitized regenerative fuel cell has a flow field with at least one channel, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel varies along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the length of the channel according to a natural exponential function. The use of this type of improved flow field channel can improve performance and efficiency of operation of the electrolyzer device.

An electrolyzer or unitized regenerative fuel cell has a flow field with at least one channel, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel varies along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the length of the channel according to a natural exponential function. The use of this type of improved flow field channel can improve performance and efficiency of operation of the electrolyzer device.

To provide a gas flow path structure for fuel cells, which is configured to minimize the occurrence of the blockage of the gas flow path caused by produced water, an increase in the pressure loss of the fuel cell caused by the buckling of a gas diffusion layer, etc., and to obtain stable power generation performance. A gas flow path structure for fuel cells, wherein gas flow paths comprise, within each gas flow path, two or more first regions and two or more second regions having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the first regions, and each first region and each second region are alternately disposed within each gas flow path; wherein each first region and each second region are alternately disposed between the adjacent gas flow paths; and wherein the gas flow paths comprise, in each second region, at least one third region having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the second region.

To provide a gas flow path structure for fuel cells, which is configured to minimize the occurrence of the blockage of the gas flow path caused by produced water, an increase in the pressure loss of the fuel cell caused by the buckling of a gas diffusion layer, etc., and to obtain stable power generation performance. A gas flow path structure for fuel cells, wherein gas flow paths comprise, within each gas flow path, two or more first regions and two or more second regions having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the first regions, and each first region and each second region are alternately disposed within each gas flow path; wherein each first region and each second region are alternately disposed between the adjacent gas flow paths; and wherein the gas flow paths comprise, in each second region, at least one third region having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the second region.