A fuel cell assembly in accordance with a present invention includes a substrate including a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region and a fuel cell carried by the substrate.
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1. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:a substrate including a reactant-permeable region with a plurality of apertures and a non-permeable support region; anda fuel cell, including first and second electrodes, carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is positioned over the
1. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:a substrate including a reactant-permeable region with a plurality of apertures and a non-permeable support region; anda fuel cell, including first and second electrodes, carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is positioned over the reactant permeable region and portions of the first electrode are located within the apertures.2. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate defines a thickness, the fuel cell defines a thickness, and the substrate is substantially thicker than the fuel cell.3. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substrate is at least 5 times as thick as the portion of the fuel cell positioned over the reactant permeable region.4. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-permeable support region surrounds the reactant permeable region.5. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a unitary structure.6. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electrode is in contact with reactant permeable region.7. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first and second electrodes comprise first and second electrode films,an electrolyte film is positioned over at least a portion of the first electrode film, andthe second electrode film is positioned over at least a portion of the electrolyte film.8. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:a substrate including a reactant-permeable region, with a plurality of apertures and defining a top surface and a bottom surface, and a non-permeable support region; anda fuel cell, including first and second electrodes, carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is positioned over the reactant permeable region, and the first electrode covers a portion of the top surface of the reactant permeable region, is located within at least some of the apertures, and covers a portion of the bottom surface of the reactant permeable region.9. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the substrate defines a thickness, the fuel cell defines a thickness, and the substrate is substantially thicker than the fuel cell.10. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the substrate is at least 5 times as thick as the portion of the fuel cell positioned over the reactant permeable region.11. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the non-permeable support region surrounds the reactant permeable region.12. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the substrate is a unitary structure.13. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe first and second electrodes comprise first and second electrode films,an electrolyte film is positioned over at least a portion of the first electrode film, andthe second electrode film is positioned over at least a portion of the electrolyte film.14. A fuel cell system, comprising:a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies arranged in spaced relation to one another;each fuel cell assembly including a substrate, having a reactant-permeable region with a plurality of apertures and a non-permeable support region, and a fuel cell, including first and second electrodes, carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is over the reactant permeable region and portions of the first electrode are located within the apertures;a fuel source operably connected to the stack; andan oxidant source operably connected to the stack.15. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, the fuel cell assemblies are arranged such that at least two of the substrates face one another and define a reactant passage therebetween.16. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the substrates define a thickness, the fuel cells define a thickness, and the substrates are substantially thicker than the fuel cells.17. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the substrates are at least 5 times as thick as the fuel cells.18. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the non-permeable support region of each substrate surrounds the reactant permeable region.19. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the substrates are unitary structures.20. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first electrode of each fuel cell is in contact with reactant permeable region of the associated substrate.21. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, whereinthe first and second electrodes of each fuel cell comprise first and second electrode films,an electrolyte film is positioned over at least a portion of the first electrode film in each fuel cell, andthe second electrode film is positioned over at least a portion of the electrolyte film in each fuel cell.22. A fuel cell system, comprising:a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies arranged in spaced relation to one another;each fuel cell assembly including a substrate, having a reactant-permeable region with a plurality of apertures and defining a top surface and a bottom surface, and a non-permeable support region, and a fuel cell including first and second electrodes, carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is over the reactant-permeable region and the first electrode covers a portion of the top surface of the reactant permeable region, is located within at least some of the apertures, and covers a portion of the bottom surface of the reactant permeable regions;a fuel source operably connected to the stack; andan oxidant source operably connected to the stack.23. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, the fuel cell assemblies are arranged such that at least two of the substrates face one another and define a reactant passage therebetween.24. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the substrates define a thickness, the fuel cells define a thickness, and the substrates are substantially thicker than the fuel cells.25. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the substrates are at least 5 times as thick as the fuel cells.26. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the non-permeable support region of each substrate surrounds the reactant permeable region.27. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the substrates are unitary structures.28. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, whereinthe first and second electrodes of each fuel cell comprise first and second electrode films,an electrolyte film is positioned over at least a portion of the first electrode film in each fuel cell, andthe second electrode film is positioned over at least a portion of the electrolyte film in each fuel cell.29. A fuel cell assembly produced by a process comprising the step of:providing a substrate having a reactant permeable region, defining a top surface and a bottom surface, and a non-permeable support region; andforming a fuel cell, on the substrate over the reactant permeable region, that includes a first electrode that covers a portion of the top surface of the reactant permeable region, extends through the substrate, and covers a portion of the bottom surface of the reactant permeable region.30. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 29, wherein the step of providing a substrate comprises the steps of:providing a sheet of substrate material; andremoving portions of the substrate material from the sheet to form a plurality of apertures that define the reactant-permeable region.31. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of removing portions of the substrate material from the sheet comprises punching apertures into the sheet of substrate material.32. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 29, wherein the step of providing a substrate comprises molding a substrate with a plurality of apertures in the reactant permeable region.33. A fuel cell assembly as claimed in claim 29, wherein the step of forming a fuel cell on the substrate comprises the steps of:forming a first electrode film over the top and bottom surfaces and within the apertures of the reactant-permeable region;forming an electrolyte film over at least a portion of the first electrode film; andforming a second electrode film over at least a portion of the electrolyte film.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Dufner Bryan Franz ; Breault Richard David, Electrochemical cell with a porous support plate.
Day, Michael J.; Swartz, Scott L.; Seabaugh, Matthew M.; Matter, Paul H.; Archer, Jared R., High performance multilayer electrodes for use in reducing gases.
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