Reinforced electrode assembly

A fuel cell comprising:

• a reinforced membrane electrode assembly including:
• a first catalyst coated substrate including a first electrode layer and a first porous reinforcement layer on the first electrode layer, the first electrode layer being formed from an electrode ink on a first substrate, the electrode ink including a proton-transmissive ionomer and a catalyst, the proton-transmissive ionomer including an ionomer matrix with electrically conductive support particles substantially evenly distributed throughout, and
• a reinforced membrane layer on the first catalyst coated substrate, the reinforced membrane layer including a first ionomer layer and a membrane porous reinforcement layer on the first ionomer layer, the first ionomer layer including the proton-transmissive ionomer and an at least partially fluorinated polymer electrolyte;
• and
• a first plate positioned on a substrate side of the first catalyst coated substrate.