(US6153323-A)   NOVELTY - A fuel cell performance in a liquid feed solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrode is improved by impregnating the substrate with a first proton conducting ionomer; and applying the electro catalyst to the impregnated substrate. The electrode is supplied with a liquid reactant stream, and comprising a substrate and an electro catalyst.    USE - For improving a fuel cell performance in a liquid feed solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell    ADVANTAGE - The initial ionomer impregnation likely results in a thin coating of ionomer disposed over large portion of the porous substrate surface area. The coating reduces the size of the pores and alter the wettability of the impregnated substrate. The former effect reduces the tendency for electro catalyst to penetrate too deeply into the substrate, keeping it localized at the substrate/membrane interface in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) where it is preferably located. Ionomer coatings on an electrode substrate generally result in better transport of reactants and products (e.g., methanol, carbon dioxide) whether applied before or after deposition of an electro catalyst.    (US6187467-B1)   NOVELTY - A fuel cell performance in a liquid feed solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrode is improved by impregnating the substrate with a first proton conducting ionomer; and applying the electro catalyst to the impregnated substrate. The electrode is supplied with a liquid reactant stream, and comprising a substrate and an electro catalyst.    USE - For improving a fuel cell performance in a liquid feed solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell    ADVANTAGE - The initial ionomer impregnation likely results in a thin coating of ionomer disposed over large portion of the porous substrate surface area. The coating reduces the size of the pores and alter the wettability of the impregnated substrate. The former effect reduces the tendency for electro catalyst to penetrate too deeply into the substrate, keeping it localized at the substrate/membrane interface in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) where it is preferably located. Ionomer coatings on an electrode substrate generally result in better transport of reactants and products (e.g., methanol, carbon dioxide) whether applied before or after deposition of an electro catalyst.