Patent ID: 7943268

Claim:
A device comprising at least one electrochemical conversion cell configured to convert first and second reactants to electrical energy, said electrochemical conversion cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly and at least one external membrane reinforcement layer, wherein: said membrane electrode assembly is subject to a degree of operational stress during operation of said electrochemical conversion cell, said operational stress having a longitudinal component oriented along a major planar dimension of said membrane electrode assembly; said membrane electrode assembly defines a fracture toughness that is insufficient to preserve the structural integrity of said membrane electrode assembly beyond a given operational degradation threshold under said longitudinal component of said operational stress; said external membrane reinforcement layer defines an elastic modulus E r and a thickness h r and is bonded to at least one side of said membrane electrode assembly along a dimension parallel to said longitudinal component of said operational stress; and said elastic modulus E r and said thickness h r of said external membrane reinforcement layer and said bond between said external membrane reinforcement layer and said membrane electrode assembly are sufficient to enhance said structural integrity of said membrane electrode assembly beyond said operational degradation threshold.