Integrated membranes with engineered functional layers for fuel cells and electrolyzers

A method comprising:

• forming a cathode-side gas diffusion layer;
• forming at least one of an anode-side gas diffusion layer and a porous transport layer;
• forming a proton-consuming electrode comprising a cathode on a surface of the cathode-side gas diffusion layer;
• forming a proton-generating electrode comprising an anode on a surface of at least one of the anode-side gas diffusion layer and the porous transport layer;
• and
• forming a proton exchange membrane positioned between the proton-generating electrode and the proton-consuming electrode, the proton exchange membrane comprising an engineered functional layer.

A vehicle comprising:

• an electric motor;
• a battery electrically coupled to the electric motor;
• and
• a proton exchange membrane electrochemical cell electrically coupled to at least one of the electric motor or the battery, the proton exchange membrane electrochemical cell comprising:
• a proton-generating electrode comprising an anode;
• a proton-consuming electrode comprising a cathode;
• a proton exchange membrane positioned between the proton-generating electrode and the proton-consuming electrode, the proton exchange membrane comprising an engineered functional layer;
• a cathode-side gas diffusion layer on a surface of the proton-consuming electrode;
• and
• at least one of an anode-side gas diffusion layer and a porous transport layer on a surface of the proton-generating electrode;
• wherein the proton-generating electrode, the proton-consuming electrode, and the proton exchange membrane collectively define a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA).