Abstract: A method for cutting an electrode of an electrochemical generator including a metal sheet with a laser beam of a power lower than or equal to 600 W, one face of the metal sheet being partially coated with a thinly layered band called the cutting band, the optical absorption factor of which for an emission wavelength of the laser beam is higher than or equal to 0.5 and preferably higher than or equal to 0.8, and extends so as to define a cutting path, in which the laser beam is focused on the cutting band and the laser beam is animated with a relative movement with respect to the electrode so as to travel the cutting path.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cell unit of a fuel cell, including: a) forming an assembly including an electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer coated with a gas diffusion electrode on the side of a surface of the membrane, a cathode catalyst layer coated with a second gas diffusion electrode on the side of the other surface of the membrane, a first reinforcement frame at least partly extending between the membrane and the first electrode, and a second reinforcement frame at least partly extending between the membrane and the second electrode; b) fastening the first and second frames on either side of the membrane; and c) performing a local welding of at least one of the first and second frames to the membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes first and second membrane electrode assemblies and a metal bipolar plate interposed between the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. The bipolar plate comprises first and second metal sheets facing the first and second membrane electrode assemblies and is securely fastened by welds. There is a gas diffusion layer interposed and compressed between the first membrane electrode assembly and the bipolar plate. In the absence of compression on the gas diffusion layer, regions of the gas diffusion layer surrounding the welds have a thickness smaller by at least 5 ?m relative to the average thickness of the gas diffusion layer. This is done so that the contact pressure of the gas diffusion layer with the bipolar plate in the area of the welds is lower than its average contact pressure with the bipolar plate.

Abstract: A method for cutting an electrode of an electrochemical generator including a metal sheet with a laser beam of a power lower than or equal to 600 W, one face of the metal sheet being partially coated with a thinly layered band called the cutting band, the optical absorption factor of which for an emission wavelength of the laser beam is higher than or equal to 0.5 and preferably higher than or equal to 0.8, and extends so as to define a cutting path, in which the laser beam is focused on the cutting band and the laser beam is animated with a relative movement with respect to the electrode so as to travel the cutting path.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane/electrode assembly, including depositing an electrocatalyst ink on one face of a support so as to form an electrode on the support and fixedly attaching the support and the electrode formed on a proton-exchange membrane by adhesion. The method also includes withdrawing a part of the support so as to uncover at least one median part of the formed electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cell unit of a fuel cell, including: a) forming an assembly including an electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer coated with a gas diffusion electrode on the side of a surface of the membrane, a cathode catalyst layer coated with a second gas diffusion electrode on the side of the other surface of the membrane, a first reinforcement frame at least partly extending between the membrane and the first electrode, and a second reinforcement frame at least partly extending between the membrane and the second electrode; b) fastening the first and second frames on either side of the membrane; and c) performing a local welding of at least one of the first and second frames to the membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes first and second membrane electrode assemblies and a metal bipolar plate interposed between the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. The bipolar plate comprises first and second metal sheets facing the first and second membrane electrode assemblies and is securely fastened by welds. There is a gas diffusion layer interposed and compressed between the first membrane electrode assembly and the bipolar plate. In the absence of compression on the gas diffusion layer, regions of the gas diffusion layer surrounding the welds have a thickness smaller by at least 5 ?m relative to the average thickness of the gas diffusion layer. This is done so that the contact pressure of the gas diffusion layer with the bipolar plate in the area of the welds is lower than its average contact pressure with the bipolar plate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane/electrode assembly, including depositing an electrocatalyst ink on one face of a support so as to form an electrode on the support and fixedly attaching the support and the electrode formed on a proton-exchange membrane by adhesion. The method also includes withdrawing a part of the support so as to uncover at least one median part of the formed electrode.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a fuel cell includes fixedly attaching a reinforcement to a proton-exchange membrane and to an electrode placed against a first face of the proton-exchange membrane. The reinforcement has a median aperture through which an interior portion of the electrode is exposed. Fixedly attaching the reinforcement includes superimposing an inner edge of the reinforcement over a periphery of the electrode, and causing a projecting portion of the reinforcement to project the proton-exchange membrane so as to limit gas permeation into the proton-exchange membrane, and forming filigrees by a wet process in a gas diffusion layer, thereby forming a recess therein, and placing the gas diffusion layer so that the inner edge of the reinforcement extends into the recess in the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: The method for supplying power from a fuel cell detects a sulphur oxide in the oxidising gas of the cell and decreases the operating temperature of the cell when the quantity of sulphur oxide detected is greater than a predetermined threshold. The temperature decrease can vary according to the degradation rate of the performances.

Abstract: The method for managing a fuel cell having an active gas flowing in contact with an electrode includes a step of comparing the concentration of a sulfur compound in the active gas with a threshold indicative of a sulfur compound pollution phase and a step of temporary introducing an oxygenated and non-sulfur polluting gas into the active gas if the concentration is higher than the threshold. The polluting gas can be introduced during or after the pollution phase.