Patent ID: 8735023

Claim:
A membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane having a first face and a second face, an anode over the first face of the membrane and a cathode over the second face of the membrane, the cathode comprising a first layer and a second layer in intimate contact with each other, wherein the first layer of the cathode is over the first face of the membrane and the second layer of the cathode is over the first layer of the cathode, wherein said first layer comprises a catalyst constructed and arranged for catalyzing an electrochemical reaction of a reactant gas and said second layer comprises a catalyst disposed on a porous support material having a surface area of at least 250 m 2 /g and constructed and arranged for catalyzing an electrochemical reaction of a reactant gas, and said second layer has a higher porosity than said first layer, the anode being a single layer nanostructured thin film having a thickness ranging from 0.1-1 micron.