METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS FOR MITIGATING HYDROGEN CROSSOVER WITHIN AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL

1 . An electrochemical cell comprising:

an anode flow field;

a cathode flow field;

a membrane positioned between the anode flow field and the cathode flow field; and

a recombination layer positioned between the anode flow field and the membrane,

wherein the recombination layer comprises a catalyst configured to assist in a formation of water from hydrogen gas and oxygen gas produced within the electrochemical cell, therein mitigating any hydrogen gas crossover from a cathode side to an anode side of the electrochemical cell.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst of the recombination layer comprises platinum.

4 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst of the recombination layer comprises platinum on carbon, platinum-ruthenium, platinum-iridium oxide, platinum black, platinum-cobalt, or a combination thereof.

5 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the recombination layer further comprises an ionomer.

6 . The electrochemical cell of claim 5 , wherein the ionomer comprises a chemically stabilized perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

7 . The electrochemical cell of claim 5 , wherein the ionomer comprises a chemically stabilized perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer and copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and sulfonyl fluoride vinyl ether (SFVE).

8 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the recombination layer further comprises an additive or additional catalyst.

9 . The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the additive or the additional catalyst comprises a scavenging agent.

10 . The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein the scavenging agent is Ceria or Zirconia.

11 . The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the additive comprises a conducting additive.

12 . The electrochemical cell of claim 11 , wherein the conducting additive is poly(3,4-ethlenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT).

13 . The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the additional catalyst comprises a membrane coating catalyst.

14 . The electrochemical cell of claim 13 , wherein the membrane coating catalyst comprises iridium oxide (IrO 2 ).

15 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a reinforced membrane.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a porous transport layer positioned between the anode flow field and the recombination layer.

18 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a separation layer positioned between the anode flow field and the recombination layer.

19 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the recombination layer has a gradient concentration of the catalyst within the recombination layer, and

wherein a higher concentration of the catalyst is present at one surface of the recombination layer in comparison to a concentration of the catalyst at an opposite surface of the recombination layer.

20 . An electrochemical cell comprising:

a multi-layered membrane configured to be positioned between an anode flow field and a cathode flow field of the electrochemical cell,

wherein the multi-layered membrane comprises a first membrane layer configured to be positioned adjacent to the cathode flow field and a second membrane layer configured to be positioned adjacent to the anode flow field,

wherein the multi-layered membrane is configured to assist in mitigating hydrogen gas crossover from a cathode side to an anode side of the electrochemical cell, and

wherein the first membrane layer and/or the second membrane layer is a reinforced membrane layer.

21 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the first membrane layer has a different composition than the second membrane layer.

22 . (canceled)

23 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , further comprising:

a porous transport layer configured to be positioned between the anode flow field and the multi-layered membrane.

24 . (canceled)