A unit cell of a fuel cell may include: a membrane-electrode assembly including a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode fastened to a first face of the proton exchange membrane, a first flow guide plate positioned facing the anode electrode and including at least one flow channel having a fuel inlet zone, a median flow zone and a fuel outlet zone. The anode electrode may have, at the fuel outlet zone, a tolerance to carbon monoxide pollution greater than its average tolerance to carbon monoxide pollution at the median flow zone and at the fuel inlet zone.

A method for producing a catalyst-coated membrane includes: producing and/or providing at least one first ink with a first ink composition, comprising supported catalyst particles, a proton-conductive ionomer, and a dispersing agent, the content of the supported catalyst particles in the composition remaining below the content of the proton-conductive ionomer; unwinding a web-shaped proton-conductive membrane material which is provided on a roll; applying at least one layer of the first ink onto at least one section of the membrane material using a first application tool; and sputtering a catalyst powder consisting of or comprising catalyst particles onto a surface of the outermost ink layer facing away from the membrane material using a sputtering device.

Disclosed are a manufacturing method of a membrane electrode assembly capable of increasing the interfacial adhesion between a polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer, improving substance delivery and performance, and enhancing hydrogen permeation resistance or oxygen permeability; a membrane electrode assembly manufactured thereby; and a fuel cell comprising the membrane electrode assembly. The manufacturing method of the present invention comprises the steps of: adding a catalyst and a first ionomer to a solvent and dispersing the same, thereby producing a dispersed mixture; adding a second ionomer to the dispersed mixture, thereby producing a coating composition; and applying the coating composition directly onto at least one side of the polymer electrolyte membrane.

A fuel cell includes a flow field plate having at least one channel and at least one land, where each of the at least one channel is positioned between two adjacent lands. The fuel cell further includes a gas diffusion layer (GDL) positioned between the flow field plate and a catalyst layer, where the catalyst layer has a first region aligned with the at least one channel and a second region aligned with the at least one land. The first region may have a first catalyst material supported by a first catalyst support region, and the second region may have a second catalyst material supported by a second catalyst support region.

A method and apparatus are described for forming a multilayer assembly. The method includes adhering first and second catalyst layers to opposed sides of a polymer membrane. At least one of the first catalyst layer, the second catalyst layer, and the polymer membrane is formed by filament extension atomization of a fluid material to form atomized droplets that are sprayed to form the respective membrane or layer.

A solid oxide electrochemical device comprises a solid electrolyte layer, the first surface and second surface having surface pores formed therein; a first composite electrolyte layer composed of metal and a solid electrolyte and having a first porosity; a second composite electrolyte layer composed of metal and the solid electrolyte and having the first porosity, the solid electrolyte layer sandwiched between the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer; a cathode on one of the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer; and an anode on another of the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer. The anode comprises an anode metal layer comprising pores; anode active material; and reforming catalyst, wherein the anode active material and the reforming catalyst line walls of the pores in the anode metal layer.

A method for production of a fuel cell includes:

a) Preparing a plurality of catalyst pastes which differ from each other at least in regard to one parameter influencing the catalytic activity,

b) Filling of at least two of the plurality of catalyst pastes into a first application means having a number of chambers corresponding to the number of catalyst pastes being filled, where only one of the catalyst pastes is filled into each of the chambers,

c) Filling of at least two of the plurality of catalyst pastes into a second application means having a number of chambers corresponding to the number of catalyst pastes being filled, where only one of the catalyst pastes is filled into each of the chambers,

d) Coating of a first side of a foil web of an electrolyte membrane which is moved past the first application means and the second application means by means of the first application means,

e) Coating of a second side of the foil web by means of the second application means,

f) Cutting of the resulting coated electrolyte membrane from the foil web and rotating of the electrolyte membrane by 90° with respect to a delivery direction of the foil web,

g) Placing of the electrolyte membrane between two flow field plates with a gradient in regard to the parameter which is oriented perpendicular to the flow field, and

h) Pressing together the flow field plates.

A carbon monoxide (CO) tolerant membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes an ionically-conductive proton exchange membrane, an anode contacting a first side of the membrane and including a hydrophobic bonding agent, an ionomer bonding agent, first catalyst particles, second catalyst particles, and an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL), a cathode contacting a second side of the membrane and including a cathode GDL. The first catalyst particles are configured to preferentially catalyze oxidation of CO, and the second catalyst particles are configured to preferentially catalyze generation of hydrogen ions.

A fuel cell electrode catalyst layer (13) of the preset invention includes: a catalyst (131b); a support (131a) that supports the catalyst; and two or more proton-conductive materials (133) different in dry mass value per mole of a proton-donating group, the proton-conductive materials being in contact with at least a part of the catalyst and at least a part of the support. Then, a proton-conductive material in which a dry mass value per mole of the proton-donating group is highest among the proton-conductive materials is in contact with at least a part of the catalyst, and has a largest contact ratio with a surface of the catalyst.

A PEM fuel or electrolysis cell with an extended lifetime, improved performance and uniform and stable operation is disclosed wherein a membrane electrode assembly is provided with a gradient of one or more properties in combination with a modification of one or more control parameters of the cell during its operation.