Patent ID: 7867669

Claim:
A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane, said solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane comprising: (a) a rigid, non-electrically-conductive support, said rigid, non-electrically-conductive support having opposing top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of pores extending from said top surface to said bottom surface, wherein said pores are distributed throughout said rigid, non-electrically-conductive support, said pores being distributed unevenly, with at least some of the pores being located in areas of higher membrane stress and at least some of the pores being located in areas of lower membrane stress wherein the areas of higher membrane stress are located at the edges of the support, with fewer pores being located in areas of higher membrane stress and more pores being located in areas of lower membrane stress; and (b) a first solid polymer electrolyte at least partially filling at least some of said pores.