BIPOLAR PLATE FOR A FUEL CELL, AND FUEL CELL

1 . A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising:

flow channels for reactants formed between webs in a plate body;

lines for a coolant; and

hydrophilic structures arranged in a gradient associated with the plate body,

wherein the gradient of hydrophilic structures is associated with the webs with hydrophilicity increasing towards bottoms of the flow channels, and

wherein microchannels to the flow channels, opening into the flow channels and generating capillary force are formed in boundary surfaces of the webs.

2 . A bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the bipolar plate is formed of a hydrophilic material.

3 . A bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic structures are formed as a coating of the webs.

4 . A bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein areal density of the mouths of the microchannels increase from edges to the bottoms of the flow channels.

5 . A bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the microchannels are oriented perpendicular to the boundary surfaces.

6 . A bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the bottoms of the flow channels are more hydrophilic than the webs in adjacent areas.

7 . A fuel cell, comprising:

a membrane electrode arrangement;

a first bipolar plate on a first side of the membrane electrode arrangement, the first bipolar plate including:

first flow channels for a first reactant formed between first webs in a first plate body;

first lines for a coolant; and

first hydrophilic structures arranged in a gradient associated with the first plate body,

wherein the gradient of first hydrophilic structures is associated with the first webs with hydrophilicity increasing towards bottoms of the first flow channels, and

wherein microchannels to the first flow channels, opening into the first flow channels and generating capillary force are formed in boundary surfaces of the first webs;

a second bipolar plate on a second side of the membrane electrode arrangement, the second bipolar plate including:

second flow channels for a second reactant formed between second webs in a second plate body;

second lines for the coolant; and

second hydrophilic structures arranged in a gradient associated with the second plate body,

wherein the gradient of second hydrophilic structures is associated with the second webs with hydrophilicity increasing towards bottoms of the second flow channels, and

wherein microchannels to the second flow channels, opening into the second flow channels and generating capillary force are formed in boundary surfaces of the second webs;

a first gas diffusion layer arranged between the membrane electrode arrangement and the first bipolar plate; and

a second gas diffusion layer arranged between the membrane electrode arrangement and the second bipolar plate.

8 . The fuel cell according to claim 7 wherein the first and second bipolar plates exhibit greater hydrophilicity in areas of the webs facing the gas diffusion layer than in the gas diffusion layer.