Patent ID: 7504174

Claim:
A unitized membrane electrode assembly comprising: (a) a first gas diffusion-backing having sealing edges; (b) a polymer membrane; (c) a second gas diffusion-backing having sealing edges; (d) a first electrocatalyst coating composition present at the interface of the first gas diffusion backing and the polymer membrane; (e) a second electrocatalyst coating composition present at the interface of the second gas diffusion backing and the polymer membrane; and (f) a thermoplastic polymer, fluid impermeable, seal, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is impregnated into at least a portion of the sealing edges of the first and second gas diffusion backings, and the seal envelops a peripheral region of both the first and second gas diffusion backings and the polymer membrane and wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyaryl(ether ketone).