Patent ID: 7087339

Claim:
A gasketed fuel membrane electrolyte assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane having an anode face with an outer edge portion, a cathode face with an outer edge portion, and an outer perimeter; b) a layer of anode catalyst material in contact with at least a portion of the anode face of said polymer electrolyte membrane; c) a layer of cathode catalyst material in contact with at least a portion of the cathode face of said polymer electrolyte membrane; d) an anode-side fluid transport layer having an outer edge portion, said anode-side fluid transport layer being in contact with said layer of anode catalyst material, said anode-side fluid transport layer extending over the outer edge portion of the anode side of said polymer electrolyte membrane; e) a cathode-side fluid transport layer having an outer edge portion, said cathode-side fluid transport layer being with said layer of cathode catalyst material, said cathode-side fluid transport layer not extending over the outer edge portion of the cathode side of said polymer electrolyte membrane; f) an anode-side gasket extending over the outer edge portion of the anode side of said polymer electrolyte membrane, said anode-side gasket having a contact face and an outer perimeter; g) a cathode-side gasket extending over the outer edge portion of the cathode side of said polymer electrolyte membrane, said cathode-side gasket having a contact face and an outer perimeter; h) a rigid, non-elastomeric anode-side shim having an outer perimeter, said anode-side shim being positioned between at least a portion of said anode-side gasket and the anode face of said polymer electrolyte membrane, said anode-side shim having a thickness which is less than 90% of the thickness of the anode-side fluid transport layer; and j) a rigid, non-elastomeric cathode-side shim having an outer perimeter, said cathode-side shim being positioned between at least a portion of said cathode-side gasket and the cathode face of said polymer electrolyte membrane, said cathode-side shim having a thickness which is less than 90% of the thickness of the cathode-side fluid transport layer; wherein said gaskets comprise an elastomeric gasket material; wherein the elastomeric material of each gasket is impregnated into the outer edge portions of the respective fluid transport layer; and wherein at least a portion of the contact face of each of said gaskets bears a raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern.