Disclosed herein are fuel cell systems and, more specifically, fuel cell
electrode pair and stack assemblies and various methods relating thereto.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a fuel cell
electrode pair assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell system, wherein
the electrode pair assembly comprises an anode structure derived from a
first silicon substrate and an opposing cathode structure derived from a
second silicon substrate, wherein at least (i) the anode structure
comprises one or more discrete anodic porous active regions disposed
across a top surface, or (ii) the cathode structure comprises one or more
discrete cathodic porous active regions disposed across a top surface, and
wherein the anode structure and the cathode structure each have at least
one adjoining support member made of silicon, one or more plastics, or one
or more glasses, and wherein the at least one adjoining support member of
the anode structure and the at least one adjoining support member of the
cathode structure have interfacing surfaces that are bonded together with
an optional interposing binding material and with at least one selectively
positioned bond to thereby form a hermetic seal, wherein the at least one
selectively positioned bond is selected from the group consisting of a
silicon-metal eutectic-silicon bond, a silicon-frit-silicon bond, a
silicon-metal-silicon microwave bond, a silicon-polymer adhesive-silicon
bond, a silicon-polymer adhesive-plastic bond, a silicon-polymer
adhesive-glass bond, or a silicon-glass anodic bond.
