Frameless fuel cell stack having hollow fasteners

A fuel cell stack comprising:

• a top end plate;
• a bottom end plate;
• a plurality of fuel cells provided between the top end plate and the bottom end plate;
• at least one bipolar plate, each of the at least one bipolar plate formed between two of the plurality of fuel cells;
• a plurality of hollow fasteners extending through holes in each of the top end plate, the bottom end plate, the plurality of fuel cells and the at least one bipolar plate;
• and
• a plurality of sleeves extending through the holes in each of the top end plate, the bottom end plate, the plurality of fuel cells and the at least one bipolar plate, each of the plurality of sleeves surrounding one of the plurality of hollow fasteners,
• each of the plurality of hollow fasteners comprising:
• a top surface, a hole in the top surface, a side surface, and a plurality of holes formed in the side surface.