Alloy catalysts for extending life of fuel cell membranes and ionomer

1. A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode;

a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, at least one of the anode, cathode and membrane comprising a material selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon ionomers, ionomers which are not perfluorinated, and ionomers having an inorganic main chain; and

an electrode catalyst disposed in at least one of the anode and the cathode and comprising a metal alloy catalyst, further comprising a protective catalyst layer positioned between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode and comprising a further alloy catalyst, wherein the protective catalyst layer comprises the further metal alloy catalyst in an ionomer material, wherein the layer has a porosity of less than 20%, and wherein the layer is electrically connected to the at least one of the anode and the cathode.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material is hydrocarbon ionomer.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal alloy is a platinum alloy.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal alloy is a binary alloy.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal alloy has a formula as follows:

Pt x Y 1-x , and wherein

Y is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, V, Cu, Fe, Cr, Pd, Ti, W, Al, Ag, Cu, Au and combinations thereof,

and x is between 0.1 and 0.9.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises an alloy of Pt and two other metals (M and Y) and has a formula as follows:

Pt x M z Y 1-x-z , and wherein

M is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Co, Ni and combinations thereof,

Y is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, V, Cu, Fe, Cr, Pd, Ti, W, Al, Ag, Cu, Au and combinations thereof,

and x+z is between 0.1 and 0.9.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is supported on carbon.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the membrane further comprises an antioxidant for decomposing radical species which reach the membrane.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the membrane further comprises a chelating agent for scavenging catalyst metal ion species.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is substantially free of catalyst metal ion species.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the layer has a lower porosity than the at least one electrode.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon ionomer is polymeric ionomer wherein less than 99.975% of hydrogen-atoms of covalently bonded hydrogen atom sites are occupied by fluorine atoms.

13. A PEM fuel cell comprising the membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1 .