Flexible graphite article and fuel cell electrode with enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity

摘要

A graphite article (20) useful in producing a membrane electrode assembly (6) comprising a pair of electrodes and an ion exchange membrane (550) positioned between the electrodes is presented. At least one of the electrodes is formed of a sheet of compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of transverse fluid channels (20) passing through the sheet between the first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet, one of the opposed surfaces abutting the ion exchange membrane (550) when used in a membrane electrode assembly (6). At least some of the fluid channels (20) are interconnected to enable flow of the fluid therebetween.