Fuel cell and fuel cell stack

A fuel cell stack configured that a plurality of fuel cells are stacked, each of the fuel cells comprising:

• a pair of interconnectors facing each other;
• one and not more than one cell main body which is provided between the interconnectors facing each other and is formed of ceramic material, and which includes an electrolyte, a cathode formed on one surface of the electrolyte, and an anode formed on the other surface of the electrolyte;
• and
• a current collection member which is provided between at least one of the cathode and the anode, and the interconnector, and which electrically connects the cathode and/or the anode, and the interconnector, the fuel cell stack being characterized in that:
• the current collection member has a connector abutment portion which abuts the interconnector, a cell main body abutment portion which abuts the cell main body, and a connection portion which connects the connector abutment portion and the cell main body abutment portion, the portions being continuously formed;
• between the cell main body and the interconnector, a spacer is provided so as to separate the connector abutment portion and the cell main body from each other, and the spacer is also provided so as to separate the cell main body abutment portion and the interconnector from each other;
• the current collection member and the spacer are provided between the cell main body and the interconnector;
• and
• the spacer is provided so as to separate at least one of:
• (a) the connector abutment portion and the cell main body, and (b) the cell main body abutment portion and the interconnector,
• wherein the spacer is in direct contact with at least one of the cell main body abutment portion and the connector abutment portion,
• wherein (i) the cell main body abutment portion is in direct contact with the cell main body or (ii) a bonding layer is provided between and in direct contact with the cell main body abutment portion and the cell main body.

A fuel cell stack configured that a plurality of fuel cells are stacked, each of the fuel cells comprising:

• a pair of interconnectors facing each other;
• one and not more than one cell main body which is provided between the interconnectors facing each other so as to be a distance away from each of the interconnectors, and is formed of ceramic material and which includes a plate-like electrolyte, and electrodes provided on upper and lower surfaces of the electrolyte;
• and
• a current collection member which is provided between at least one of the electrodes, and the interconnector, and which electrically connects the electrode and the interconnector, the fuel cell stack being characterized in that:
• the current collection member has a connector abutment portion which abuts the interconnector, a cell main body abutment portion which abuts the electrode of the cell main body, and a connection portion which connects the connector abutment portion and the cell main body abutment portion, the portions being continuously formed;
• a spacer is provided between the connector abutment portion and the cell main body abutment portion;
• each of the current collection member and the spacer exhibits elasticity in a direction of increasing the distance between the cell main body and the interconnector, and the elastic deformation of the spacer is greater than that of the current collection member;
• and
• the current collection member and the spacer are provided between the cell main body and the interconnector,
• wherein the spacer is in direct contact with at least one of the cell main body abutment portion and the connector abutment portion,
• wherein (i) the cell main body abutment portion is in direct contact with the electrode of the cell main body or (ii) a bonding layer is provided between and in direct contact with the cell main body abutment portion and the electrode of the cell main body.

A fuel cell stack configured that a plurality of fuel cells are stacked, each of the fuel cells comprising:

• a pair of interconnectors facing each other;
• one and not more than one cell main body which is provided between the interconnectors facing each other so as to be a distance away from each of the interconnectors, and is formed of ceramic material and which includes a plate-like electrolyte, and electrodes provided on upper and lower surfaces of the electrolyte;
• and
• a current collection member which is provided between at least one of the electrodes, and the interconnector, and which electrically connects the electrode and the interconnector, the fuel cell stack being characterized in that:
• the current collection member has a connector abutment portion which abuts the interconnector, a cell main body abutment portion which abuts the electrode of the cell main body, and a connection portion which connects the connector abutment portion and the cell main body abutment portion, the portions being continuously formed;
• a spacer is provided between the connector abutment portion and the cell main body, and the spacer is also provided between the cell main body abutment portion and the interconnector;
• each of the current collection member and the spacer exhibits elasticity in a direction of increasing the distance between the cell main body and the interconnector, and the elastic deformation of the spacer is greater than that of the current collection member;
• the current collection member and the spacer are provided between the cell main body and the interconnector;
• and
• the spacer is provided so as to separate at least one of:
• (a) the connector abutment portion and the cell main body, and (b) the cell main body abutment portion and the interconnector,
• wherein the spacer is in direct contact with at least one of the cell main body abutment portion and the connector abutment portion,
• wherein (i) the cell main body abutment portion is in direct contact with the electrode of the cell main body or (ii) a bonding layer is provided between and in direct contact with the cell main body abutment portion and the electrode of the cell main body.