Abstract: A fuel cell gas separator (212) for use between two solid oxide fuel cells (210) and having a separator body with an anode-facing side and a cathode-facing side and with paths (234) of electrically conductive material therethrough in an electrode-contacting zone (236). In a first aspect, the electrically conductive material comprises a silver-glass composite, preferably containing 15 to 30 wt % glass. In this aspect the material of the separator body is preferably zirconia and the silver is commercially pure, a silver mixture or a silver alloy. In another aspect, the material of the separator body is zirconia, the electrically conductive material comprises silver or a silver-based material, a coating of nickel is formed on the electrode-contacting zone (236) on the anode-facing side preferably with an undercoating of Ag, and a coating of Ag—Sn alloy is formed on the electrode-contacting zone (236) on the cathode side.

Abstract: A fuel cell gas separator (14) between two planar solid oxide fuel cells (12) comprises a first layer (22) which is formed of a material that is impermeable to gases, a second layer (24) which is formed of a material that is impermeable to gases. The first and second layers have perforations (28) through their thickness which are closed by electrically conductive plug material (30). A third intermediate layer (26) between the first and second layers is electrically conductive and is in electrical contact with the plug material in the perforations through the first and second layers. The perforations in the first layer may be offset relative to the perforations in the second layer. The electrically conductive plug material in the perforations of the first and second layers may be the same, and may also be the same as the material of the third intermediate layer. The electrically conductive material may be silver or a silver-based material such as a silver-glass composite.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which has a high temperature fuel cell stack (1) with current diverters (5) and a reformer and/or an afterburner (6), the current diverters (5) being connected with low temperature connecting elements (10) for current delivery. The current diverters (5) are in thermal contact with the reformer and/or afterburner (6) between the high temperature fuel cell stack (1) and the low temperature connecting elements (10). The thermal contact prevents cooling of the HTFC stack 1 on its ends in the vicinity of the connecting points of the current diverters (5) and ensures effective conversion and uniform transport of the fuel.