IMPROVED MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES AND HIGHLY DURABLE FUEL CELLS

摘要

The invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly which comprises two gas diffusion layers, each contacted with a catalyst layer, which are separated by a polymer-electrolyte membrane. Said polymer electrolyte membrane has an inner area which is contacted with a catalyst layer, and an outer area which is not provided on the surface of a gas diffusion layer. The inventive assembly is characterized in that the thickness of all components of the outer area is 50 to 100%, based on the thickness of all components of the inner area. The thickness of the outer area decreases over a period of 5 hours by not more than 5% at a temperature of 80° C. and a pressure of 5 N/mm². The decrease in thickness is determined after a first compression step which takes place over a period of 1 minute at a pressure of 5 N/mm².