Patent ID: 8318373

Claim:
An MEA comprising: (i) a central first conductive gas diffusion substrate having a first face and a second face; (ii) first and second catalyst layers each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the first catalyst layer is in contact with the first face of the gas diffusion substrate and the first face of the second catalyst layer is in contact with the second face of the gas diffusion substrate; (iii) first and second electrolyte layers each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the first electrolyte layer is in contact with the second face of the first catalyst layer and the first face of the second electrolyte layer is in contact with the second face of the second catalyst layer; (iv) third and fourth catalyst layers each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the third catalyst layer is in contact with the second face of the first electrolyte layer and the first face of the fourth catalyst layer is in contact with the second face of the second electrolyte layer; and (v) first and second porous current collecting means each having a thickness of less than 400 μm, and each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the first current collecting means is in contact with the second face of the third catalyst layer and the first face of the second current collecting means is in contact with the second face of the fourth catalyst layer; wherein the first and second catalyst layers are both anode catalyst layers and the third and fourth catalyst layers are both cathode catalyst layers.