Bipolar plate for fuel cell

A fuel cell comprising:

• a plurality of unit cells disposed in a stack, each unit cell including:
• a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode and a cathode,
• a bipolar plate having a cathode side defining a recessed pocket in fluid communication with an air port, an anode side, and coolant channels between the cathode and anode sides, wherein the bipolar plate is disposed against the MEA such that the cathode is disposed over the pocket, and
• a flow guide disposed in the pocket with a front side facing the MEA and a back side facing a bottom of the pocket, the flow guide including a plurality of embossments that are raised from the front side and recessed into the back side, wherein at least one of the embossments defines a hole.

A unit cell of a fuel cell comprising:

• a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode and a cathode;
• a bipolar plate having a cathode side defining a recessed pocket in fluid communication with an air port, an anode side, and coolant channels between the cathode and anode sides, wherein the bipolar plate is disposed against the MEA such that the cathode is disposed over the pocket;
• and
• a flow guide disposed in the pocket with a front side facing the MEA and a back side facing a bottom of the pocket, the flow guide including a plurality of embossments that are raised from the front side and recessed into the back side.