Electrochemical device

1. An electrochemical device component ( 20 ) for use in a planar configuration air breathing polymer electrolyte electrochemical device adapted to be attached to an anode support ( 10 ) having openings for gas access further comprising:

an anode current collector ( 1 ), which comprises an electrically conductive foil having openings ( 12 , 13 ) for gas access;

a cathode current collector ( 2 ); and

- a membrane electrode assembly ( 3 ), which comprises a solid ion conducting polymer membrane electrolyte ( 4 ), an anode ( 5 ), an anode gas backing ( 6 ), a cathode ( 7 ) and a cathode gas backing ( 8 ),

said membrane electrode assembly ( 3 ) being arranged between said anode current collector ( 1 ) and said cathode current collector ( 2 ), such that the anode gas backing ( 6 ) is directed towards the anode current collector ( 1 ) and the cathode gas backing ( 8 ) is directed towards the cathode current collector ( 2 ),

said membrane electrode assembly ( 3 ) being attached directly to the anode current collector ( 1 ) by means of an adhesive layer ( 9 ) provided on the anode current collector, wherein said adhesive layer covers a first region ( 9 a ) adjacent and corresponding to the anode gas backing ( 6 ), and a second region ( 9 b ) surrounding said first region ( 9 a ), thereby creating a sealing between the membrane electrode assembly ( 3 ) and the anode current collector ( 1 ) and thus forming an anode gas chamber, and wherein said adhesive layer is electrically conductive in at least the first region ( 9 a ),

wherein a second surface of said anode current collector ( 1 ) is provided with a second adhesive layer ( 15 ) and a releasable protective sheet ( 16 ), removed before use of the component.

2. The electrochemical device according to claim 1 , wherein the anode current collector ( 1 ; 1 ′) is an electrically conductive layer, which is attached to an electrically non-conductive support ( 10 ), and wherein said anode current collector ( 1 ) and said support ( 10 ) forming an anode current collector assembly ( 11 ), said anode current collector assembly having openings ( 12 , 13 ) for gas access.

3. The electrochemical device according to claim 2 , wherein the anode current collector ( 1 ) forms a part of an adhesive tape, which comprises a conductive substrate foil having a first surface directed towards the membrane electrode assembly ( 3 ) and said second surface directed away from the membrane electrode assembly, wherein said first surface is provided with an adhesive layer ( 9 ), and wherein optionally said second surface is provided with the second adhesive layer ( 15 ).

4. The electrochemical device according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode current collector ( 2 ) is electrically connected to the cathode gas backing ( 8 ) by electrically conductive adhesive means ( 14 ).

5. The electrochemical device according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode current collector comprises an electrically conductive mesh ( 202 ) and clamping means ( 219 ).

6. The electrochemical device according to claim 5 , wherein the clamping means comprise a printed circuit board with one or more apertures for air access.

7. A multiple cell serial connection arrangement of electrochemical devices according to claim 1 .

8. The multiple cell serial connection arrangement according to claim 7 , comprising adjacent electrochemical devices that share a current collector element, said element functioning as a cathode current collector for one of said devices and as an anode current collector for the adjacent device.

9. The electrochemical device component according to claim 1 , wherein said membrane electrode assembly ( 3 ) is attached to the cathode current collector ( 2 ) by adhesive means ( 14 ), and wherein at least a portion ( 14 a ) of the adhesive adjacent to the cathode gas backing ( 8 ) is electrically conductive.

10. The electrochemical device component according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode current collector comprises an electrically conductive mesh ( 202 ) and clamping means ( 219 ).

11. The electrochemical device component according to claim 10 , wherein the clamping means comprise a printed circuit board with one or more apertures for air access.