Fuel cell membrane and fuel cell system with integrated gas separation

A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell system comprising:

• a carbon dioxide gas-evolving, protonically conductive membrane electrolyte comprising a first material for conducting protons from an anode chamber of said fuel cell to a cathode chamber of said fuel cell and a second material organized and arranged with respect to the first material for evolving carbon dioxide gas from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber, wherein said second material comprises a web of micromesh, and wherein said first material comprises a plurality of strips positioned intermittently along said second material;
• a first catalyst positioned proximate said first side of said membrane electrolyte;
• an anode gas diffusion layer positioned proximate said anode electrode;
• a second catalyst positioned adjacent said second side of said membrane electrolyte;
• and
• a cathode gas diffusion layer positioned proximate said cathode electrode.

A fuel cell comprising a housing and a membrane electrode assembly disposed within said housing forming an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, said membrane electrode assembly comprising:

• a carbon dioxide gas-evolving, protonically conductive membrane electrolyte having a first material for conducting protons from said anode chamber to said cathode chamber and a second material organized and arranged with respect to the first material for conducting carbon dioxide gas from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber;
• wherein said second material comprises a web of micromesh, and wherein said first material comprises a plurality of strips positioned intermittently along said second material;
• a first catalyst positioned proximate said first side of said membrane electrolyte;
• an anode gas diffusion material positioned proximate said anode electrode;
• a second catalyst positioned adjacent said second side of said membrane electrolyte;
• and
• a cathode gas diffusion material positioned proximate said cathode electrode.

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a fuel delivery device;
• a fuel source having carbonaceous fuel, said source in communication with said fuel delivery device;
• an anode chamber having an inlet for receiving a fuel mixture from said fuel delivery device and an outlet for returning unreacted fuel to said fuel delivery device;
• a cathode chamber having an inlet for allowing an oxidant to flow into said cathode chamber, a first outlet for exhausting gaseous effluent and
• a second outlet for directing water effluent to said fuel delivery device;
• a membrane electrolyte positioned between said anode chamber and said cathode chamber, said membrane comprising a first material for conducting protons from said anode chamber to said cathode chamber and a second material organized and arranged with respect to the first material for conducting carbon dioxide gas from said anode chamber to said cathode chamber;
• wherein said second material comprises a web of micromesh, and wherein said first material comprises a plurality of strips positioned intermittently along said second material.

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a fuel delivery device;
• a fuel source in communication with said fuel delivery device;
• an anode chamber having an inlet for receiving a fuel mixture from said fuel delivery;
• a cathode chamber having an inlet for allowing an oxidant to flow into said cathode chamber and an outlet for exhausting effluent out of said cathode chamber;
• a membrane electrolyte positioned between said anode chamber and said cathode chamber, said membrane comprising a first material for conducting protons from said anode chamber to said cathode chamber and a second material organized and arranged with respect to said first material for conducting carbon dioxide gas from said anode chamber to said cathode chamber;
• wherein said second material comprises a web of micromesh, and wherein said first material comprises a plurality of strips positioned intermittently along said second material.