Fuel cell stack

Fuel cell stack, comprising, in combination,

• at least one fuel cell basic unit containing
• a gas diffuser/collector plate serving as an anode;
• an ion exchange membrane, disposed on top of said gas diffuser/collector and an air diffuser/collector plate serving as a cathode and disposed on top of said ion exchange membrane;
• said gas diffuser/collector plate having a face directed to said ion exchange membrane, said face being provided with a flow field incorporating a multiplicity of open-faced flow channels, each said open-faced flow channel having a cross-section continuously diminishing from its inlet to its outlet, so said flow field, viewed from the top, forms a trapezoidal contour;
• said fuel cell stack further including:
• a reactant manifold plate placed on said gas diffuser/collector plate;
• an oxidant manifold plate on said reactant manifold;
• a first end sealing plate disposed beneath said gas diffuser/collector plate;
• a second end sealing plate disposed on top of said oxidant manifold plate;
• fastening means;
• said first and second end sealing plates, said reactant manifold plate and
• said oxidant manifold plate are all preferentially provided with means for accommodating said fastening means.