Contact plate for fuel cells

The present invention relates to a contact plate for fuel cells with a coherent active area on at least one side of the contact plate, wherein the active area consists of a contact surface which over the whole surface comprises a coating of an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant material, and of recesses so that the recesses form a channel structure, wherein the coating furthermore at least in the bottom regions of the recesses is omitted. The invention further relates to a corresponding fuel cell or to a fuel cell stack with at least one such contact plate as well as to various methods for manufacturing such contact plates which may serve as bipolar plates as well as monopolar plates or end plates. With the contact plate according to the invention, one achieves an optimally reduced contact resistance with a minimal material expense for the coating.