Abstract: A method for making a fuel cell has steps of forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate, forming a fuel cell on the substrate, forming a connector that connects the fuel cell to the substrate, and removing the sacrificial layer. After the sacrificial layer has been removed, the fuel cell is generally free standing over a planar surface of the substrate with a gap defined therebetween.

Abstract: An electrolyte has a core and at least one projection extending from the core. The core is supported on a substrate, and the at least one projection is separated from the substrate.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly in accordance with a present invention includes a substrate including a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region and a fuel cell carried by the substrate.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly and reactant distribution structure and method of making the same.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a MEMS fuel-cell structure including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, formed on a substrate, a portion of the substrate being removed from beneath the MEMS structure to leave the MEMS structure suspended in membrane form. An opening may extend through the substrate to leave the MEMS fuel-cell structure in a cantilevered configuration, supported by only one edge. Additional openings may be formed to relieve mechanical stress near an edge or edges supporting the MEMS fuel-cell structure, and/or to limit heat-conducting paths. Specially adapted methods are disclosed for fabricating the MEMS-based fuel cell in any of its various configurations.

Abstract: A fuel cell or battery has an integral multifunction heater element operable as an integral heater, an integral temperature sensor, and/or an integral aid to current collection from the fuel cell. The integral multifunction heater element is embedded within the electrolyte, anode, or cathode, disposed in thermal contact with at least one of the electrolyte, anode, or cathode, and is formed of a thin film of material of suitable resistivity, such as a refractory metal or conductive oxide, patterned in a suitable pattern. Conductive terminals provide electrical contact to the thin film. The integral multifunction heater element may include a thermistor or thermocouple. Methods are disclosed for fabricating and using the fuel cell with an integral multifunction heater element.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly including a substrate and an electrolyte disposed on the substrate and having a rib projecting out from the substrate. The rib has first and second side surfaces and a top surface. An anode is disposed on the first side surface and a cathode is disposed on the second side surface. The fuel cell also includes a resistive heater disposed at a location selected from the anode, the cathode, within the electrolyte, between the rib and the substrate, and any combination of these.

Abstract: The invention is a fuel cell comprising a cathode film having a side surface, an anode film having a side surface and an electrolyte film disposed between the cathode film and the anode film and having a side surface. The anode, cathode and electrolyte side surfaces are coplanar. Protons generated at the anode diffuse along the anode side surface, the electrolyte side surface or both towards the cathode side surface. Oxygen ions generated at the cathode diffuse along the cathode side surface, the electrolyte side surface, or both towards the anode side surface.

Abstract: A coherent optical source, having a center frequency in the terahertz band can be generated. Two coherent optical sources of different frequencies can be mixed in a nonlinear crystal to generate an optical source having a third distinct frequency in the terahertz frequency range. The third frequency, an idler frequency, equals the difference between pump and signal wave frequencies incident on the crystal. The pump and signal wave frequencies are selected so that their frequency difference is in the terahertz range and so that the interaction between the pump, signal, and idler wave frequencies is phase matched using a cross-Reststrahlen band dispersion-compensated phasematching technique.