Fuel Cell Employing Hydrated Non-Perfluorinated Hydrocarbon Ion Exchange Membrane

Fuel cells (9) include unitized electrode assemblies (12) having a non-perfluorinated hydrocarbon ionomer exchange membrane (26) with anode and cathode catalysts (27, 28) disposed on opposite sides thereof. Adjacent the catalysts, respective optional sublayers (29, 30) may be supported by corresponding gas diffusion layers (31, 32), with adjacent porous, hydrophilic, water transferring reactant gas flow field plates (13, 14) having respective fuel (17) and oxidant (23) reactant gas flow field channels. Water channels (18, 19, 20)hydrate the membrane (26), clear the product water from the cathode (28, 30, 32), flush peroxide radicals, and may also cool the fuel cells. Improved performance (124) (higher voltage at higher current densities) is achieved along with elimination of a propensity for degradation from peroxide decomposition products resulting from oxygen solubility of perfluorinated membranes. Platinum/ruthenium alloy anode catalysts improve performance without degradation which occurs with perfluorinated membranes.