Patent ID: 8828620

Claim:
A fuel cell assembly, comprising: a membrane comprising first and second opposed major surfaces comprising first and second active regions, respectively; a first bonding layer having a first major surface in adhesive contact with the first major surface of the membrane and comprising a first window in alignment with the first active region of the membrane, the first window comprising protrusions of bonding material defining a plurality of inwardly projecting fingers disposed along a peripheral edge of the first window parallel to the first major surface of the membrane and in contact with the first active region; a second bonding layer having a first major surface in adhesive contact with the second major surface of the membrane and comprising a second window in alignment with the second active region of the membrane, the second window comprising protrusions of bonding material defining a plurality of inwardly projecting fingers disposed along a peripheral edge of the second window parallel to the second major surface of the membrane and in contact with the second active region; a first gasket layer disposed on a second major surface of the first bonding layer and comprising a third window in alignment with the first window of the first bonding layer; a second gasket layer disposed on a second major surface of the second bonding layer and comprising a fourth window in alignment with the second window of the second bonding layer; a first fluid transport layer (FTL) in contact with the first major surface of the membrane, a peripheral edge of the first FTL adhesively contacting at least the bonding material protrusions of the first window; a second FTL in contact with the second major surface of the membrane, a peripheral edge of the second FTL adhesively contacting at least the bonding material protrusions of the second window; an anode catalyst disposed at one of the first and second active regions; and a cathode catalyst disposed at the other of the first and second active regions.