Membrane with supported internal passages

An ion exchange membrane having first and second side surfaces and a passage extending through the membrane in a plane that is substantially parallel to the membrane side surfaces, the passage comprising one or more compression resistant members;

• an anode electrocatalyst layer formed on the first side surface of the membrane;
• and a cathode electrocatalyst layer formed on the second side surface of the membrane.

An ion exchange membrane having first and second side surfaces and a passage extending through the membrane in a plane that is substantially parallel to the membrane side surfaces, the passage comprising one or more compression resistant members, and wherein the ion exchange membrane comprises a perfluorinated sulphonic acid polymer.

A membrane comprising:

• a sheet of ion exchange material that is electronically insulating having top and bottom surfaces, wherein the sheet forms a passage between the surfaces extending through the sheet in a plane that is substantially parallel to the sheet surfaces, wherein the passage has at least one compression resistant tube in direct fluid communication with the passage, and wherein the ion exchange material is a fluorinated ion exchange material selected from a group consisting of perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymers, perfluorinated carboxylic acid polymers, perfluoro bisulfonimide polymers, perfluoro phosphonic acid polymers, perfluorinated tetraalkylammonium salt polymers, carbanion acids, and mixtures thereof.

An ion exchange membrane having first and second side surfaces and a passage extending through the membrane in a plane that is substantially parallel to the membrane side surfaces, the passage comprising one or more compression resistant members, and wherein the ion exchange material comprises a layer of cation exchange material and a layer of anion exchange material.

The ion exchange membrane of claim 38, wherein the cation exchange material comprises a perfluorinated sulphonic acid polymer.