Patent ID: 8828613

Claim:
A method for preparing a membrane electrode assembly having functionalized cathode catalyst surfaces for use in a fuel-cell assembly having a cathode channel and an anode channel, the method comprising: applying electrodes to an electrolyte membrane to prepare the membrane electrode assembly, wherein applying the electrodes comprises: applying a catalytic ink to a first side of the electrolyte membrane to form a cathode layer on the first side, the catalytic ink comprising catalytic particles of a cathode catalyst material, electrically conductive particles, an ionomer binder, and a cyanide source; and applying an anode layer to a second side of the electrolyte membrane opposite the first side; placing the cathode layer in fluidic communication with the cathode channel of the fuel-cell assembly; placing the anode layer in fluidic communication with the anode channel of the fuel-cell assembly; cycling a cathode potential of the cathode layer relative to an anode potential of the anode layer from a minimum cathode potential, to an electro-oxidation cathode potential at which the cyanide source is electro-oxidized and catalytic surfaces of the catalytic particles in the cathode layer become functionalized with cyano groups derived from the cyanide source, and back to the minimum cathode potential, wherein the cyanide source is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, serine, and mixtures thereof.