Patent ID: 9722255
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: H01M,Y02E

Claim:
1. A reinforced catalyst layer assembly, suitable for use in a fuel cell, said reinforced catalyst layer assembly comprising: (i) a planar reinforcing component formed from a porous material having pores extending through a thickness of the material in a z-direction, the planar reinforcing component having a first surface and a second surface, wherein each pore has a cross-sectional diameter of from 1 mm to 10 nm; (ii) a first catalyst layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first catalyst layer comprising a first ion-conducting material and a first primary metal, and having a first primary metal loading of less than 4 mg/cm (iii) a second catalyst layer having a first surface and a second surface, the second catalyst layer comprising a second ion-conducting material and a second primary metal, and having a second primary metal loading of less than 4 mg/cm (iv) an ion-conducting layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the ion-conducting layer is in contact with the first surface of the first catalyst layer, and the second surface of the ion-conducting layer is in contact with the first surface of the second catalyst layer, wherein the planar reinforcing component extends through the thickness of the ion-conducting layer, extends into the first catalyst layer by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the first catalyst layer and not more than 50 μm beyond the second surface of the first catalyst layer, and extends into the second catalyst layer by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the second catalyst layer and not more than 50 μm beyond the second surface of the second catalyst layer.