TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The electrically conductive region is centrally located on the surface of the terminal plate and the electrically non-conductive region circumscribes the central region. The terminal plate further comprises a tab in electrical contact with the body of conductive material underlying the electrically non-conductive region, and an electrically conductive path from the electrically conductive region through the conductive body underlying the electrically non-conductive region to the electrically conductive tab. The terminal plate has aperture through the body in the electrically non-conductive region. The aperture has a surface overlaid with the corrosion-resistant layer. The corrosion-resistant layer of the aperture and the corrosion resistant layer of the non-conductive region are continuous. The electrically conductive region is overlaid with a protective coating including a first layer in contact with the surface of the electrically conductive region comprising an oxidation-resistant metal, and a second layer comprising an oxidation-resistant polymer. The second layer further comprises electrically conductive particles. The cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (4, 6) between electrically conductive distribution elements.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The electrically conductive particles can be graphite and/or carbon.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Material: The body comprises aluminum. The oxidation-resistant metal comprises nickel, tin, silver, and/or their alloys. The electrically conductive particles are gold, platinum, nickel, palladium, rhodium, niobium, titanium, chromium, rare earth metals, and/or their compound or alloys.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The electrically conductive particles can be graphite and/or carbon.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The corrosion-resistant layer includes a passivation layer and a non-conductive polymeric coating. Preferred Material: The polymeric coating comprises epoxies, silicones, polyamide-imides, polyether-imides, polyphenols, fluoroelastomers, polyesters, phenoxy-phenolics, epoxide-phenolyics, acrylics, and/or urethanes.