Patent ID: 8206872

Claim:
A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising: an ion-conducting membrane including an anode side and a cathode side; at least one catalyst side catalyst layer positioned at the cathode side of the membrane; and an anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration positioned at the anode side of the membrane, said anode side multilayer catalyst configuration including an anode side under layer positioned against the membrane and including a catalyst, an anode side middle layer positioned against the anode side under layer and not including a catalyst and an anode side catalyst layer positioned against the anode side middle layer and opposite to the anode side under layer and including a catalyst, where the amount of catalyst in the anode side catalyst layer is greater than the amount of catalyst in the anode side under layer and where the anode side middle layer is a low hydrogen permeability non-porous layer of an electron conductive material and ion conducting polymer.