Patent ID: 8586265

Claim:
An electrochemical device comprising a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), each MEA having an ion-exchange membrane interposed between first and second electrode layers having an electrocatalyst and a gas diffusion layer, each MEA formed by a method comprising: disposing a release sheet on a second side of the membrane; bonding a first side of the first electrode layer to a first side of the membrane, forming a partial MEA; forming the second electrode layer; removing the release sheet from the second side of the membrane of the partial MEA; positioning a plurality of venting members on a first side of the gas diffusion layer of the second electrode layer; bonding using temperature and pressure, while the plurality of venting members remove at least one of liquid and vapor from a combination of the partial MEA and the second electrode layer, the second side of the membrane of the partial MEA to a first side of the electrocatalyst of the second electrode layer while the second electrode layer is aqueous, achieving substantial contiguity between a second side of the membrane of the partial MEA and the first side of the electrocatalyst; and removing the venting members upon substantial removal of the at least one of liquid and vapor from the combination of the partial MEA and second electrode layer.