Fuel cell electrode catalyst layer coating

A fuel cell comprising:

• a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM);
• first and second electrode catalyst layers including first and second catalyst materials, the PEM situated between the first and second electrode catalyst layers, the first electrode catalyst layer having a first surface facing away from the PEM and a second surface facing the PEM, and the second electrode catalyst layer having a first surface facing away from the PEM and a second surface facing the PEM;
• and
• a two-dimensional layered material coated onto the first and/or second surface of the first and/or second electrode catalyst layers, the two-dimensional layered material having a number of defects, each formed by a vacancy of at least four adjacent carbon atoms in the two-dimensional layered material, and the number of defects configured to mitigate dissolution of the first and/or second catalyst materials through the first and/or second surface of the first and/or second electrode catalyst layers, the two-dimensional layer material includes:
• graphyne, borophene, germanene, silicone, Si2BN, stanine, phosphorene, bismuthene, molybdenite, a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC), a layered transition metal carbide or carbonitride with a general formula of Mn+1XnTx, where M is a transition metal, X stands for carbon and/or nitrogen, and Tx is a surface termination of ═O, —OH or —F, or a combination thereof, and the two-dimensional layered material further includes a graphene-based material.