We report here results using an MEA

We report here results using an MEA consisting of a Nafion 115 membrane pressed between 2 E-tek electrodes (these consist of a carbon cloth coated on one side with a Pt/C catalyst). The catalyst weight loading at each electrode was 0.4 mg-Pt/cm2. Each electrode was brushed with solubilized Nafion solution to a loading of ∼ 4 mg-Nafion/cm2 before placing the membrane between them (Raistrick, 1989). The assembly was hotpressed at130 ◦C and 10 MPa. Copper foils were pressed against the graphite plates and copper wires were attached to connect them to the external load resistor. The current and voltage across the load resistor were measured as the load resistance was varied. A 10-turn 0–20 Ω potentiometer was varied to obtain a polarization curve (IV curve). Current and voltage were both read out by a data acquisition board and stored by computer. For transient studies the current, voltage and relative humidity of the anode and cathode effluents were read out by computer and stored.