TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Fuel Cell: The exterior surface of the integral manifold comprises electrolyte material. The fuel cell further comprises a current collector, the current collector comprising a patterned film of conductive material. At least a portion of the current collector is disposed on an exterior surface of the integral manifold. At least a portion of the current collector is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of the integral manifold. The fuel cell further comprises a combustor for combustion of depleted fuel. The combustor comprises a patterned film of a catalyst suitable for combustion of the fuel, the patterned film of catalyst being disposed within the at least one chamber. The patterned film of catalyst is disposed within the integral manifold. A fuel cell of the type using a fuel and an oxidant, the fuel cell comprises an electrolyte; a cathode in contact with the electrolyte; an anode spaced apart from the cathode and in contact with the electrolyte; and an integral manifold for supplying at least one of the fuel and oxidant; and a combustor within the integral manifold, the combustor comprising a patterned film of catalyst suitable for combustion of the fuel. A MEMS-based fuel cell of the type using a fuel and an oxidant, the fuel cell comprises a substrate; an electrolyte in contact with the substrate; a cathode in contact with the electrolyte; an anode spaced apart from the cathode and in contact with the electrolyte; and integral means for supplying at least one of the fuel and oxidant, the supplying means extending over at least a portion of the electrolyte and over at least a portion of one of the anode and cathode. The MEMS-based fuel cell further comprises means for flowing at least one of the fuel and oxidant through the substrate and communicating with the integral means for supplying at least one of the fuel and oxidant. The MEMS-based fuel cell further comprises integral means for exhausting at least one of depleted fuel and depleted oxidant. The MEMS-based fuel cell further comprises means for flowing at least one of the depleted fuel and depleted oxidant through the substrate, communicating with the integral means for exhausting at least one of depleted fuel and depleted oxidant. The MEMS-based fuel cell further comprises integral means for combustion of depleted fuel, the means for combustion being disposed within the integral means for exhausting. Preferred Manifold: The manifold further comprises an opening extending through the substrate, and where the interior volume of the manifold further communicates with the opening through the substrate. The manifold further comprises a porous substance substantially filling the interior volume of the manifold. The manifold further comprises a catalyst disposed within the manifold. The catalyst is a combustion catalyst. The manifold further comprises a current collector disposed on the roof of the manifold. Preferred Method: In the method for using a manifold in a MEMS-based fuel cell of the type using a fuel and an oxidant, an opening extends through the substrate and communicates with the integral manifold, the method further comprises flowing at least one of the fuel and oxidant through the opening extending through the substrate and into the integral manifold. An opening extends through the substrate and communicates with the integral manifold, the method further comprises flowing at least one of the depleted fuel and oxidant out of the integral manifold and through the opening extending through the substrate.