Surface protonated hydrocarbon supports for fuel cell and electrolyzer membranes

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrochemical cell comprising:

• a proton-generating electrode comprising an anode;
• a proton-consuming electrode comprising a cathode;
• and
• a proton exchange membrane positioned between the proton-generating electrode and the proton-consuming electrode, the proton-generating electrode, proton-consuming electrode, and proton exchange membrane collectively defining a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA), the proton exchange membrane comprising a surface protonated porous hydrocarbon reinforcement layer;
• an anode-side gas diffusion layer on the proton-generating electrode;
• a cathode-side gas diffusion layer on the proton-consuming electrode;
• a first flow field coupled to the anode-side gas diffusion layer;
• and
• a second flow field coupled to the cathode-side gas diffusion layer.

A method comprising:

• forming a proton-generating electrode comprising an anode;
• forming a proton-consuming electrode comprising a cathode;
• and
• forming a proton exchange membrane (PEM) positioned between the proton-generating electrode and the proton-consuming electrode, the proton-generating electrode, proton-consuming electrode, and PEM collectively defining a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA), the PEM comprising a surface protonated porous hydrocarbon reinforcement layer;
• forming an anode-side gas diffusion layer on the proton-generating electrode;
• forming a cathode-side gas diffusion layer on the proton-consuming electrode;
• coupling a first flow field to the anode-side gas diffusion layer;
• and
• coupling a second flow field to the cathode-side gas diffusion layer.