Patent ID: 9570756
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: H01M,Y02E

Claim:
1. A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane having a cathode side and an anode side; b) a sublayer having first and second sides, and comprising catalyst material, the first side of the sublayer adjoining one of the anode side or the cathode side of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and c) a nanostructured thin film catalyst layer consisting of microstructured support whiskers bearing discrete or fused nanoscopic catalyst particles, the nanostructured thin film catalyst layer adjoining the second side of the sublayer, wherein the catalyst material in the sublayer is borne on support particles having an average aspect ratio of less than 3, wherein the nanoscopic catalyst particles in the nanostructured thin film catalyst layer are borne on whiskers having an average aspect ratio of greater than 3, wherein the whiskers are microstructured support whiskers that are not electrically conductive, wherein the average density of the catalyst material in the sublayer is less than 1.0 mg/mm