Patent ID: 8399145

Claim:
A membrane electrode assembly having a peripheral edge region and a central region, wherein said membrane electrode assembly comprises an ion-conducting membrane, first and second electrocatalyst layers disposed either side of the ion-conducting membrane, and first and second gas diffusion layers disposed either side of the first and second electrocatalyst layers respectively, wherein the membrane electrode assembly further comprises an edge protection member, the edge protection member comprising a film layer, a bonding layer, and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of free radical decomposition catalysts, self regenerating antioxidants, hydrogen donor (H-donor) primary antioxidants, free radical scavenger secondary antioxidants, oxygen absorbers (oxygen scavenger) and elemental palladium, said edge protection member being positioned between the membrane and the first and/or second gas diffusion layer at the peripheral edge region of the membrane electrode assembly, and wherein the edge protection member overlaps the first and/or second electrocatalyst layers.