Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preparing ?-alane by desolvating an alane-etherate complex. The methods include electrospraying or electrospinning the alane-etherate complex in order to remove solvent. Solid alane is obtained and can be in either fine particulate form or fiber form. The alane can be encapsulated with a stabilizing agent.

Abstract: A disposable, compact, and efficient storage apparatus (10) contains a fuel source (24) and water for supplying hydrogen fuel (36) to a micro-fuel cell. The storage apparatus comprises a housing defining a fuel source chamber (14) and a plurality of water chambers (12), and one or more polymer crystals (22) containing water positioned within each of the water chambers (12). The fuel source (24), such as a chemical hydride mixed with a catalyst, is positioned within the fuel source chamber (14), wherein the water in each of the water chambers (12) is selectively allowed to migrate to the fuel source chamber (14) to contact the solid fuel, thereby producing the hydrogen fuel (36) at a desired flow rate and temperature. A conduit (32) supplies the hydrogen fuel (36) produced within the housing to the fuel cell (38).

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack (52) includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies (12) having evenly distributed fuel concentration across an anode (24), and efficient cooling across a cathode (26). A first plate (14) has a fuel side (28) with a plurality of serpentine channels (40) formed therein for distributing fuel across the anode (24), and a second plate (16) has an oxidant side (30) with oxidant channels (42) formed therein for distributing an oxidant across the cathode (26). The membrane electrode assembly (12) has an even fuel concentration thereacross, and the oxidant is routed through the cell (10) at least twice for absorbing heat prior to being distributed across the cathode (26).