Claims
- 1. A fuel cell assembly comprising at least one cell including an electrolyte layer (2), a pair of gas diffusion electrode layers (3, 4) interposing the electrolyte layer between them, and a pair of flow distribution plates (5) for defining passages (10, 11) for fuel and oxidizer gases that contact the gas diffusion electrode layers, characterized by that:
the gas diffusion electrode layers are formed by performing an etching process on a substrate.
- 2. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte layer (2) comprises a frame (21) including a grid (21a) having a number of through holes (21b), and electrolyte (22) retained in each of the through holes, and the frame grid is also formed by performing an etching process on a substrate.
- 3. A fuel cell assembly comprising at least one cell including an electrolyte layer (2), a pair of gas diffusion electrode layers (3, 4) interposing the electrolyte layer between them, and a pair of flow distribution plates (5) for defining passages (10, 11) for fuel and oxidizer gases that contact the gas diffusion electrode layers, characterized by that:
the electrolyte layer (2) comprises a frame (21) including a grid (21a) having a number of through holes (21b), and electrolyte (22) retained in each of the through holes.
- 4. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 3, wherein the grid of the frame is provided with a projection (21c) which projects into the corresponding through hole.
- 5. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 4, wherein the frame is made of silicon substrate, and the through holes and projections are formed by conducting anisotropic etching from two sides of the silicon substrate so as to produce a narrowed middle part in each through hole.
- 6. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of the flow distribution plates comprises a central recess (51, 52) and a number of projections (53, 54) formed in the recess, and each projection of the flow distribution plates engages the corresponding gas diffusion electrode layer so as to interpose the gas diffusion electrode layer between the projection and the grid.
- 7. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 6, wherein each projection of the flow distribution plates is provided with an electrode terminal (55, 56) for electrically connecting the corresponding gas diffusion electrode layer with an external circuit.
- 8. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 6, wherein each flow distribution plate is made of silicon substrate, and the central recess and projections are formed by anisotropic etching so as to form each projection in a pyramidal shape.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/202,827, filed May 8, 2000, and 60/242,136, filed Oct. 23, 2000, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/11762 |
5/8/2001 |
WO |
|