TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The recombination catalyst is mixed with a compound that bonds the recombination catalyst to one or more surfaces of the hydrogen distribution system, and/or surfaces of the oxygen distribution system. The recombination catalyst is disposed on a surface within the hydrogen distribution system. The surface is flowfield, gas diffusion layer, current collector, manifold, frame, bipolar plate, monopolar plate, and/or endplate. The recombination catalyst does not reduce electrical communication of the components. The recombination catalyst is disposed by mixing the recombination catalyst with a bonding agent and applying the mixture to the surface, and where the bonding agent bonds the recombination catalyst to the surface. The mixture is applied by spreading, spraying, dipping, and/or rolling. The flow field is made of material such as metal mesh, metal foam, conducting polymer foam, and/or porous conductive carbon material. The flow field is bonded by a metal-to-metal bond with the bipolar plate, the monopolar plate, the endplate or the current collector. The metal-to-metal bond is formed by brazing, welding, and/or soldering. It is performed before the recombination catalyst is disposed on the surface. The flow field is bonded by a conductive adhesive bond with the bipolar plate, the monopolar plate, the endplate or the current collector. The conductive adhesive bond is formed before the recombination catalyst is disposed on the surface. The recombination catalyst is disposed on a surface within the oxygen distribution system. The disposing of the recombination catalyst does not reduce electrical communication of the components. The recombination catalyst is disposed by mixing the recombination catalyst with a bonding agent and applying the mixture to the surface, where the bonding agent bonds the recombination catalyst to the surface. The flow field is bonded by a metal-to-metal bond with the bipolar plate, the monopolar plate, the endplate or the current collector. The hydrogen and oxygen distribution systems operate at different pressures. The ionically conducting media is a proton exchange membrane Preferred Materials: The flow field is made of material such as expanded metal mesh, metal foam, conducting polymer foam, and/or porous conductive carbon material.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The recombination catalyst comprises components such as platinum, palladium, gold, and/or tin. The recombination catalyst comprises platinum.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The recombination catalyst comprises components such as platinum, palladium, gold, and/or tin. The recombination catalyst comprises platinum.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The ionically conducting media is a perfluoronated sulfonic acid polymer.