Fuel cell with patterned electrolyte/electrode interface

A fuel cell comprising:

• a) two electrodes;
• and
• b) an electrolyte sheet sandwiched between said electrodes to form an electrode/electrolyte structure, thereby defining first and second interfaces between said electrolyte sheet and said electrodes, at least one of said interfaces having three-dimensional features in a prescribed pattern, wherein said prescribed pattern is selected to direct a flow of a reactant from an inlet region of said fuel cell to an outlet region of said fuel cell, and wherein said prescribed pattern defines a discrete serpentine path for directing said reactant flow therethrough such that said inlet region and said outlet region communicate with respective end portions of said serpentine path, and wherein said electrode/electrolyte structure has a substantially planar peripheral portion surrounding said three-dimensional features of said at least one of said interfaces, said fuel cell further comprising a sealing plate for contacting said substantially planar peripheral portion of said electrode/electrolyte structure to seal said serpentine path.

A fuel cell comprising:

• a) two electrodes;
• and
• b) an electrolyte sheet sandwiched between said electrodes, thereby defining first and second interfaces between said electrolyte sheet and said electrodes, at least one of said interfaces having three dimensional features in a prescribed pattern, wherein said prescribed pattern is selected to direct flow of reactant from an inlet region of said fuel cell to an outlet region of said fuel cell such that said inlet region and said output region communicate with only a portion of said three-dimensional features, wherein said electrodes each consist of a conductive grid and wherein at least one of said conductive grids associated with said at least one of said interfaces is conformal to said three-dimensional features of said at least one of said interfaces.