Fuel cells having silicon substrates and/or sol-gel derived support structures

An electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate, wherein the anode has integrally associated therewith a plurality of anode sol-gel derived support structures;
• an electrolyte;
• a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate, wherein the cathode has integrally associated therewith a plurality of cathode sol-gel derived support structures;
• wherein the anode and the cathode are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other so as to define a spaced apart region, and wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode.

An electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell, comprising:

• anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate;
• an electrolyte;
• a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate;
• wherein the anode and the cathode are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other so as to define a spaced apart region, and wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, and wherein the anode and the cathode each have a plurality of porous regions that define anode pore surfaces and cathode pore surfaces, and wherein the anode pore surfaces and the cathode pore surfaces each have a catalyst dispersed thereon such that the catalyst is noncontiguously dispersed throughout the plurality of porous regions of the anode and the cathode, and wherein the anode and the cathode each have been doped such that the anode and the cathode are each capable of functioning as a current conductor.

An electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell, comprising:

• anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate;
• an electrolyte;
• a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate;
• wherein the anode and the cathode are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other so as to define a spaced apart region, and wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, and wherein the anode and the cathode each have a plurality of porous regions that are separated from one another by a plurality of nonporous silicon regions and that define anode pore surfaces and cathode pore surfaces, and wherein the anode pore surfaces and the cathode pore surfaces each have a catalyst dispersed thereon such that the catalyst is noncontiguously dispersed throughout the plurality of porous regions of the anode and the cathode.

An electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell, comprising:

• anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate;
• an electrolyte;
• a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate;
• wherein the anode and the cathode are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other so as to define a spaced apart region, and wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, and wherein the anode and the cathode each have a plurality of porous regions that are separated from one another by a plurality of nonporous silicon regions and that define anode pore surfaces and cathode pore surfaces, and wherein the anode pore surfaces and the cathode pore surfaces each have a catalyst dispersed thereon such that the catalyst is noncontiguously dispersed throughout the plurality of porous regions of the anode and the cathode, and wherein the anode and the cathode each have been doped such that the anode and the cathode are each capable of serving as a current conductor.