MULTI-LAYERED MEMBRANES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

1 . A multi-layered membrane for an electrochemical cell, the multi-layered membrane comprising:

a first membrane layer; and

a second membrane layer,

wherein the first membrane layer is an outer membrane layer configured to be positioned adjacent to a porous transport layer or gas diffusion layer within the electrochemical cell, and

wherein the multi-layered membrane comprises a radical scavenger composition and/or a hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst positioned within the first membrane layer.

2 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , wherein the radical scavenger composition is positioned within the first membrane layer.

3 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst is positioned within the first membrane layer.

4 .- 6 . (canceled)

7 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , wherein the radical scavenger composition is configured to scavenge radicals within an oxygen evolution reaction within the electrochemical cell.

8 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , wherein the radical scavenger composition comprises catalytic nanoparticles, cerium oxide, or manganese oxide.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst is configured to minimize hydrogen crossover from a hydrogen side of the electrochemical cell to an oxygen side of the electrochemical cell.

11 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst comprises platinum.

12 .- 14 . (canceled)

15 . The multi-layered membrane of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one additional membrane layer.

16 .- 26 . (canceled)

27 . A method of forming a multi-layered membrane for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:

providing a first membrane layer; and

casting or depositing a second membrane composition onto a surface of the first membrane layer to form a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer,

wherein the first membrane layer and the second membrane layer comprise different compositions, and

wherein the second membrane layer comprises a radical scavenger composition and/or a hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst positioned within the second membrane layer,

wherein the second membrane layer is an outer membrane layer of the multi-layered membrane configured to be positioned adjacent to a porous transport layer or gas diffusion layer within the electrochemical cell.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the radical scavenger composition is configured to scavenge radicals within an oxygen evolution reaction within the electrochemical cell.

29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the radical scavenger composition comprises catalytic nanoparticles, cerium oxide, or manganese oxide.

30 . (canceled)

31 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst is configured to minimize hydrogen crossover from a hydrogen side of the electrochemical cell to an oxygen side of the electrochemical cell.

32 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst comprises platinum.

33 . An electrochemical cell comprising:

an anode flow field;

a cathode flow field;

a multi-layered membrane positioned between the anode flow field and the cathode flow field;

a porous transport layer positioned between the anode flow field and the multi-layered membrane; and

a gas diffusion layer positioned between the cathode flow field and the multi-layered membrane,

wherein the multi-layered membrane comprises:

a first membrane layer; and

a second membrane layer,

wherein the first membrane layer is an outer membrane layer positioned adjacent to the porous transport layer or the gas diffusion layer, and

wherein the multi-layered membrane includes a radical scavenger composition and/or a hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst positioned within the first membrane layer.

34 . The electrochemical cell of claim 33 , wherein the radical scavenger composition is positioned within the first membrane layer.

35 . The electrochemical cell of claim 33 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst is positioned within the first membrane layer.

36 .- 38 . (canceled)

39 . The electrochemical cell of claim 33 , wherein the radical scavenger composition is configured to scavenge radicals within an oxygen evolution reaction within the electrochemical cell.

40 . The electrochemical cell of claim 33 , wherein the radical scavenger composition comprises catalytic nanoparticles, cerium oxide, or manganese oxide.

41 . (canceled)

42 . The electrochemical cell of claim 33 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst is configured to minimize hydrogen crossover from a hydrogen side of the electrochemical cell to an oxygen side of the electrochemical cell.

43 . The electrochemical cell of claim 33 , wherein the hydrogen crossover mitigation catalyst comprises platinum.

44 .- 47 . (canceled)