Fuel cell with integral fuel storage

A fuel cell with internal fuel storage, comprising:

• a tubular membrane electrode assembly comprising a laminate of:
• a solid polymer electrolyte comprising polybenzimidazole or perfluorinated sulfonic acids derived from fluorinated styrene;
• a noble metal catalyst disposed on two opposing major sides of the solid polymer electrolyte;
• a cathode disposed on and in intimate contact with the noble metal catalyst on one side of the solid polymer electrolyte;
• an anode disposed on and in intimate contact with the noble metal catalyst on the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte;
• and
• said laminate formed about and disposed on a porous central core generally formed in the shape of a cylinder;
• a solid fuel storage medium comprising a metal hydride or a material that chemisorbs hydrogen, said material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon nano-fibers and graphite;
• the solid fuel storage medium being electrically conductive and surrounding the tubular membrane electrode assembly;
• the tubular membrane electrode assembly and the solid fuel storage medium arranged within a housing such that end portions of the porous central core are exposed to ambient air on an exterior of the housing to provide oxygen to the tubular membrane electrode assembly, and the housing sealing the solid fuel storage medium within.

A fuel cell having no external supply of fuel, comprising:

• a plurality of central cores comprising a reticulated vitreous material generally formed in the shape of a solid cylinder, to provide ambient air to the fuel cell;
• each of the plurality of central cores having a membrane electrode assembly disposed coaxially about the length of the cylinder, such that ends of the cylinder are not covered by the membrane electrode assembly;
• a solid fuel storage medium having chemisorbed hydrogen that can be desorbed to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell;
• the plurality of central cores situated within the solid fuel storage medium;
• and
• the plurality of central cores and the solid fuel storage medium arranged within a housing such that the ends of the cylinders that are not covered by the membrane electrode assembly are exposed to ambient air outside the housing in order to provide oxygen to the fuel cell, and such that the solid fuel storage medium is sealed within the housing.