Apparatus and methods for connecting fuel cells to an external circuit

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an ion conducting component;
• two or more electrode coatings, each electrode coating independently comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surface of the electrode coatings are parallel to an x-y plane, the x-y plane having an x-z plane perpendicular thereto, the first and second surfaces being the largest two surfaces of each of the electrode coatings;
• and
• one or more fuel cell connection components, the fuel cell connection components comprising
• an electrically, non-conductive interface region having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surface of the interface region being parallel to the x-z plane, in which the first surface of the non-conductive interface is in contact with the ion conducting component;
• an electron conducting component having two surfaces parallel to the x-z plane and a length that is parallel to the x-z plane, wherein one of the surfaces of the electron conducting component is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the interface region, the electron conducting component comprising
• conductive fibers oriented parallel to the x-z plane and oriented at an angle of greater than 0° and less than 90° to the first or second surface of one of the electrode coatings;
• wherein the electron conducting component provides an electrically conductive pathway between the one electrode coating and an external circuit or between the one electrode coating and an electrode coating of another fuel cell, said pathway extending along the length of the electron conducting component.

A fuel cell layer, comprising:

• a composite layer having a first surface and a second surface, the composite layer comprising
• a plurality of fuel cell connection components;
• and
• a plurality of ion conducting components, positioned between the fuel cell connection components;
• a first plurality of electrode coatings disposed on the first surface to form anodes;
• and
• a second plurality of electrode coatings disposed on the second surface to form cathodes, each of the first and second plurality of electrode coatings in ionic contact with one of the ion conducting components and in electrical contact with one of the fuel cell connection components, each of the first and second plurality of electrode coatings independently comprising a first surface and a second surface, each of the first and second surfaces of the electrode coatings being parallel to an x-y plane, the x-y plane having an x-z plane perpendicular thereto, the first and second major surfaces of the electrode coatings being the largest two surfaces of each of the electrode coatings:
• wherein at least one of the fuel cell connection components comprises
• an electrically non-conductive interface region having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surface of the interface region being parallel to the x-z plane, the first surface in contact with one of the ion conducting components;
• and
• at least one electron conducting component having two surfaces parallel to the x-z plane and a length parallel to the x-z plane, one of the surfaces of the at least one electron conducting component disposed adjacent to the second surface of the interface region, wherein the at least one electron conducting component comprises
• conductive fibers oriented parallel to the x-z plane and oriented at an angle of greater than 0″ and less than 90° to the first or second surface of at least one of the first or second plurality of electrode coatings;
• wherein the at least one of the fuel cell connection components provides an electrically conductive pathway between the at least one of the first or second plurality of electrode coatings and an external circuit or between the at least one of the first or second plurality of electrode coatings and a different one of the first or second plurality of electrode coatings, said pathway extending along the length of the at least one electron conducting component.