Patent ID: 7537857

Claim:
A membrane electrode assembly comprising: an anode and a cathode fluid diffusion layer; an ion-exchange membrane interposed between the anode and cathode fluid diffusion layers; and an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer interposed between the ion-exchange membrane and the respective fluid diffusion layer; wherein at least one of the ion-exchange membrane, the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer non-uniformly supports at least one additive selected from a radical scavenger, a membrane cross-linker, a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst and a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer, and wherein the additive is supported by the at least one ion-exchange membrane, cathode catalyst layer and anode catalyst layer such that the loading of the additive varies non-uniformly across the x-y plane of the at least one ion-exchange membrane, cathode catalyst layer and anode catalyst layer and an increased loading of the additive is located in regions of the membrane electrode assembly more susceptible to membrane degradation.