Zhen Xiang Guo

US Patent:

20060286436, Dec 21, 2006

Filed:

Jun 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/157645

Inventors:

Amir Faghri - Farmington CT, US
Zhen Guo - Farmington CT, US

International Classification:

H01M 4/86
H01M 4/88

US Classification:

429044000, 029623300, 502101000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a system and method for forming an air breathing fuel cell that includes an air permeable cathode layer positioned to be in contact with atmospheric air and an electrically conductive, fuel permeable anode backing layer positioned to be in contact with a mixture of fuel and water, wherein the anode and cathode layers are divided by a pre-swollen electrolyte membrane, and the anode and cathode layers are in contact with electrical current collecting members. The present invention also provides a fuel cell stack consisting of fuel cells of the present invention arranged in a grid-like format within a support frame that is configured to provide electrical connections between the fuel cells.