Disclosed are electro-energy or electro-
synthetic cells whose architectures allow them to be readily stacked into a
cell stack. The cells comprise polymeric
cell frames that incorporate within them, functional materials, such as an inter-
electrode separator, electrodes, metallic bipolar plates, and the like. For example, an electro-energy or electro- synthetic
cell comprises a polymeric cell frame, a first
electrode and a second
electrode, and an inter-electrode separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. A compressive component is positioned adjacent to the first electrode. The compressive component may be a metallic bipolar plate compressive component and / or a metallic porous
transport layer compressive component. In one example the polymeric cell frame is sealed to the metallic bipolar plate by a
polymer-to-
metal join. In another example at least one polymeric structural locating component locates the metallic bipolar plate against the polymeric cell frame. A cell stack is disclosed comprising a plurality of the cells.