Fuel cell, method of producing the fuel cell, and fuel cell stack

A fuel cell, comprising:

• power generation units each including first and second electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said first and second electrodes, said first electrode including a first electrically conductive gas diffusion layer and said second electrode including a second electrically conductive gas diffusion layer, said power generation units including a first power generation unit and a second power generation unit adjacent to said first power generation unit,
• wherein said first electrically conductive gas diffusion layer of said first electrode of said first power generation unit has a first end protruding toward said second power generation unit;
• said second electrically conductive gas diffusion layer of said second electrode of said second power generation unit has a second end protruding toward said first power generation unit;
• and
• said first end and said second end are electrically connected with each other by an electrically conductive member extending through at least said electrolyte.

A method of producing a fuel cell including a plurality of power generation units arranged in a same plane, said power generation units each including first and second electrodes, and an electrolyte interposed between said first and second electrodes, said power generation units including a first power generation unit and a second power generation unit adjacent to said first power generation unit, said method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a first electrically conductive film on a porous electrically conductive film;
• providing said first electrode of said first power generation unit and said first electrode of said second power generation unit;
• electrically connecting said first electrode of said second power generation unit and said first electrically conductive film;
• providing a first electrolyte on said first electrode of said first power generation unit and providing a second electrolyte on said first electrode of said second power generation unit such that said first and second electrolytes are partially overlapped on said first electrically conductive film;
• providing said second electrode of said first power generation unit and said second electrode of said second power generation unit on said first and second electrolytes, respectively;
• electrically connecting said second electrode of said first power generation unit and said first electrically conductive film through said second electrically conductive film;
• and
• providing a resin insulator on said second electrically conductive film, and in a gap between said second electrically conductive film and said second electrode.

A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells, said fuel cells each including a plurality of power generation units arranged in a same plane and a pair of electrically insulating separators for sandwiching said power generation units, said power generation units each including a first electrode a second electrode and an electrolyte interposed between said first electrode and said second electrode, said fuel cell stack further comprising:

• a casing containing said fuel cells,
• wherein a plurality of guide grooves are formed on at least one of said separators on a surface opposite to a surface facing said power generation units, for supplying a coolant along said separator;
• and
• a coolant passage is connected to said guide grooves of each of said fuel cells in said casing.