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The fuel cell layer with a central axis includes a first and a second unit fuel cell, an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; and each unit fuel cell comprises: a first and second process layer; a first cavity and second cavity formed between the first and second

The fuel cell layer with a central axis includes a first and a second unit fuel cell, an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; and each unit fuel cell comprises: a first and second process layer; a first cavity and second cavity formed between the first and second process layer and a first process layer of an adjacent unit fuel cell; a first perimeter barrier disposed on the second process layer substantially surrounding the second cavity; a second perimeter barrier disposed on the first process layer substantially surrounding the first cavity forming a unit fuel cell comprising a front face and back face; the first cavity is in communication with the oxidant plenum; the second cavity is in communication with the fuel plenum; wherein at least one of the process layers transports ions between the first and second cavities.

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What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell layer with a central axis comprising: a. at least a first unit fuel cell and a second unit fuel cell, wherein the first and second unit fuel cells are disposed adjacent each other; b. an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and c. a fuel plenum comprises a fuel;

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell layer with a central axis comprising: a. at least a first unit fuel cell and a second unit fuel cell, wherein the first and second unit fuel cells are disposed adjacent each other; b. an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and c. a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; wherein each unit fuel cell comprises: i. a first process layer, ii. a second process layer, iii. a first cavity formed between the first and second process layers; iv. a second cavity formed between the second process layer and a first process layer of an adjacent unit fuel cell; v. a first perimeter barrier disposed on the second process layer substantially surrounding the second cavity; and vi. a second perimeter barrier disposed on the first process layer substantially surrounding the first cavity forming a unit fuel cell comprising a front face and a back face, and wherein the first cavity is in communication with the oxidant plenum and the second cavity is in communication with the fuel plenum, and wherein at least one of the process layers transports ions between the first and second cavities. 2. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel plenum contains a fuel. 3. The fuel cell layer of claim 2, wherein the fuel comprises: hydrogen, hydrogen from reformate, a methanol, an ethanol, formic acid, ammonia and combinations thereof. 4. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the oxidant plenum contains an oxidant. 5. The fuel cell layer of claim 4, wherein the oxidant comprises: air, oxygen, mixtures of inert gas and oxygen, and combinations thereof. 6. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell layer is a thin flat construction, wherein the thin flat construction comprises a thickness between 1 nanometer and 2 centimeters. 7. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell layer is a thin curvilinear construction, wherein the thin flat construction comprises a thickness between 1 nanometer and 2 centimeters. 8. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the unit fuel cells are disposed parallel to each other horizontally around the central axis. 9. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the unit fuel cells are disposed substantially parallel to each other forming a tube and the unit fuel cells are oriented parallel to the central axis of the tube. 10. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein a first unit fuel cell is disposed at a first angle to an adjacent unit fuel cell and a second unit fuel cell is disposed at a second angle to the first unit fuel cell, and wherein the first angle and the second angle are different. 11. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein a first group of the unit fuel cells is formed into a first group of parallel unit fuel cells, and a second group of unit fuel cells is formed into a second group of parallel unit fuel cells, and the first group of the unit fuel cells is disposed at an arbitrary angle to the second group of unit fuel cells. 12. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the overall length of the fuel cell layer is between 1 millimeter and 100 centimeters and the overall width of the fuel cell layer is between 1 millimeter and 50 centimeters and the overall thickness between the front face and the back face of the fuel cell layer is between 100 nanometers and 5 centimeters. 13. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell layer comprises a variable thickness. 14. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell layer has a three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, prismatic, boxlike or irregular shape. 15. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fuel cells are oriented to form the fuel plenum. 16. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second unit fuel cells conform to the shape of the fuel plenum. 17. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the oxidant plenum is enclosed by a structure. 18. The fuel cell layer of claim 17, wherein the structure is open to ambient atmosphere. 19. The fuel cell layer of claim 17, wherein the structure is a closed container. 20. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel plenum is enclosed by a device. 21. The fuel cell layer of claim 20, wherein the device is open to ambient atmosphere. 22. The fuel cell layer of claim 20, wherein the device is a closed container. 23. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein more than two unit fuel cells are used in the fuel cell layer. 24. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell layer comprises between 2 unit fuel cells and 50,000 unit fuel cells. 25. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell layer comprises between 2 unit fuel cells and 500 unit fuel cells. 26. The fuel cell layer of claim, 1, wherein the fuel cell layer comprises between 2 unit fuel cells and 100 unit fuel cells. 27. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one process layer comprises an ion conducting material. 28. The fuel cell layer of claim 27, wherein the ion conducting material comprises a proton exchange membrane, an electrolyte filled micro-porous structure, a liquid electrolyte trapped in a mesh, and combinations thereof. 29. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one process layer comprises an electronically conductive material. 30. The fuel cell layer of claim 29, wherein the electronically conductive materials comprise a metal, a filled metal composite, a filled micro-structure of polymer, a filled epoxy composite, a graphite composite, or combinations thereof. 31. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the each perimeter barrier comprises a material that prevents the uncontrolled mixing of fuel and oxidant. 32. The fuel cell layer of claim 31, wherein the material comprises a metal, a silicone, a rubber, a polyamide, a synthetic rubber, an epoxy, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyldiflouride, composites thereof, laminates thereof, alloys thereof, and blends thereof. 33. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one perimeter barrier comprises a form that prevents the uncontrolled mixing of fuel and oxidant. 34. The fuel cell layer of claim 33, wherein the form comprises a micro-structure or a three dimensional structure creating an undulating path. 35. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the process layers comprise at least one thin sheet, wherein the thin sheet comprises a thickness between 1 nanometer and 2 centimeters. 36. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one process layer comprises a thickness different from another process layer. 37. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the first process layer is an undulating first process layer, the second process layer is an undulating second process layer, the first cavity is an undulating first cavity, the second cavity is an undulating second cavity, the first perimeter barrier is an undulating first perimeter barrier, and the second perimeter barrier is an undulating second perimeter barrier. 38. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the adjacent process layers are alternatively ionic conducting process layers and electronic conducting process layers. 39. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one cavity has an aspect ratio greater than 1 cm/cm. 40. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one cavity has an aspect ratio between 1 cm/cm and 100 cm/cm. 41. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least one cavity has an aspect ratio between 2.5 cm/cm and 15 cm/cm. 42. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein at least two cavities have different aspect ratios. 43. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the first and second perimeter barriers each comprise a height ranging from 100 nanometers to 10 millimeters and a width ranging from 10 nanometers to 5 millimeters. 44. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein the first and second perimeter barriers comprise widths which can vary from being narrower on one portion of the perimeter barrier to wider on another portion of the perimeter barrier. 45. An electrical appliance, comprising, as a source of power, the fuel cell layer according to claim 1. 46. The electrical appliance of claim 45, wherein the electrical appliance is an airplane, a car, a laser pointer, a cellular phone, a wireless phone, a projector, a television, a CD player, a radio, or a flashlight. 47. The fuel cell layer of claim 1, wherein a process layer is formed from two or more thin process layers that are placed in contact with each other, wherein the thin process layers comprise a thickness between 1 nanometer and 2 centimeters. 48. A fuel cell layer with a central axis comprising: a. at least a first unit fuel cell and a second unit fuel cell, wherein the first and second unit fuel cells are disposed adjacent each other; b. an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and c. a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; wherein each unit fuel cell comprises: i. a first process layer ii. a second process layer: iii. a first cavity formed between the first and second process layers; iv. a second cavity formed between the second process layer and a first process layer of an adjacent unit fuel cell; v. a first perimeter barrier disposed on the second process layer substantially surrounding the second cavity; and vi. a second perimeter barrier disposed on the first process layer substantially surrounding the first cavity forming a unit fuel cell comprising a front face and a back face, and wherein the first cavity is in communication with the oxidant plenum and the second cavity is in communication with the fuel plenum, and wherein at least one of the process layers transports ions between the first and second cavities wherein at least the first cavity or the second cavity is at least partially filled with a catalyst. 49. A fuel cell layer, with a central axis comprising: a. at least a first unit fuel cell and a second unit fuel cell, wherein the first and second unit fuel cells are disposed adjacent each other; b. an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and c. a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; wherein each unit fuel cell comprises: i. a first process layer; ii. a second process layer; iii. a first cavity formed between the first and second process layers; iv. a second cavity formed between the second process layer and a first process layer of an adjacent unit fuel cell; v. a first perimeter barrier disposed on the second process layer substantially surrounding the second cavity; and vi. a second perimeter barrier disposed on the first process layer substantially surrounding the first cavity forming a unit fuel cell comprising a front face and a back face, and wherein the first cavity is in communication with the oxidant plenum and the second cavity is in communication with the fuel plenum, and wherein at least one of the process layers transports ions between the first and second cavities, and wherein at least one cavity is at least partially filled with at least one gas diffusion electrode containing at least one catalyst layer and at least one porous conductive layer. 50. The fuel cell of claim 49, wherein the gas diffusion electrode comprises at least one porous layer and at least one catalyst layer, wherein the catalyst layer adjoins the ionic conducting process layer forming an anode or a cathode, and wherein the porous conductive layer electrically connects the catalyst layer to an electronically conducting process layer enabling current to flow between gas diffusion electrodes creating a bipolar connected fuel cell layer. 51. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the porous conductive layer comprises a polymer bound carbon composite, a micro-structured carbon monolith, a porous conductive media, a porous metal foam, conductive micro-structure, or combinations thereof. 52. The fuel cell layer of 49, wherein the porous conductive layer comprises at least two layers of differing porous materials. 53. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the process layers are each ionically conductive. 54. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the gas diffusion electrode comprises a first and second catalyst layer; wherein the first catalyst layer adjoins the first process layer and the second catalyst layer adjoins the second process layer forming an edge collected uni-polar fuel cell layer with two identical polarity electrodes in the gas diffusion electrode such that current flowing into or out of the identical polarity electrode passes through at least one porous conductive layer creating an edge collected uni-polar fuel cell layer. 55. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the catalyst layers comprise: a noble metal catalyst, a transition metal catalyst, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. 56. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the catalyst layers comprise: a carbon supported catalyst, or, a thin film formed by spraying, sputtering, electroplating, printing, pulsed laser deposition, and combinations thereof. 57. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein one of the catalyst layers is cracked. 58. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the transport of fuel or oxidant from one of the plenums to at least one catalyst layer is by diffusion. 59. The fuel cell layer of claim 49, wherein the transport of fuel or oxidant from one of the plenums to at least one catalyst layer is by forced convection.