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A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly, and an IR transmissive window for thermographic analysis of a surface of the membrane electrode assembly is described. The test fuel cell provides a method of monitoring a fuel cell, and capturing a thermographic profile of said fuel cell with an

A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly, and an IR transmissive window for thermographic analysis of a surface of the membrane electrode assembly is described. The test fuel cell provides a method of monitoring a fuel cell, and capturing a thermographic profile of said fuel cell with an IR detector array, while simultaneously measuring the electrochemical output of the cell, including current, voltages and half cell potentials.

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What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly, a first current collector layer having an open mesh structure such that at least 60 percent of an IR transmission can be transmitted, a second current collector layer, and an IR transmissive window for thermographic analy

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly, a first current collector layer having an open mesh structure such that at least 60 percent of an IR transmission can be transmitted, a second current collector layer, and an IR transmissive window for thermographic analysis of a surface of the membrane electrode assembly, wherein the membrane electrode assembly comprises an ion-conducting membrane having a first catalyst layer on a first major surface of the ion-conducting membrane defining a first catalyst surface and a second catalyst layer on a second major surface of the ion-conducting membrane defining a second catalyst surface, wherein the first catalyst layer is an anode layer and the second catalyst layer is the cathode layer, wherein the anode layer, the cathode layer, or a combination thereof comprises a gradient concentration of a catalyst from one area on the catalyst surface to another area on the same catalyst surface. 2. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first current collector layer is in electrical contact with the anode layer, the second current collector layer is in electrical contact with the cathode layer, and the IR transmissive window is disposed adjacent to the first current collector layer or the second current collector layer such that the first current collector layer or the second current collector layer is positioned between the IR transmissive window and the membrane electrode assembly. 3. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the IR transmissive window is positioned on an anode layer side of the membrane electrode assembly. 4. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the IR transmissive window is positioned on a cathode layer side of the membrane electrode assembly. 5. The fuel cell of claim 2, further comprising: a) a first distribution plate in electrical contact with the first current collector layer; and b) a second distribution plate in electrical contact with the second current collector layer. 6. The fuel cell of claim 5, wherein the first distribution plate contains the IR transmissive window. 7. The fuel cell of claim 2, wherein the IR transmissive window is adjacent to the first current collector layer, and the first current collector layer is IR transmissive. 8. The fuel cell of claim 2, wherein the IR transmissive window is adjacent to the second current collector layer, and the second current collector layer is IR transmissive. 9. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the IR transmissive window comprises a quartz or sapphire window. 10. The fuel cell of claim 5, wherein the first distribution plate has an inlet port, an outlet port, or a combination thereof. 11. The fuel cell of claim 5, wherein the second distribution plate has an inlet port, an outlet port, or a combination thereof. 12. The fuel cell of claim 5, wherein the second distribution plate has channels therein for directing a flow of a fuel, an oxidant, or a combination thereof. 13. The fuel cell of claim 5, further comprising a first housing plate adjacent to the first distribution plate, and a second housing plate adjacent to the second distribution plate. 14. The fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the first housing plate, the second housing plate, or a combination thereof comprises an engagement means for releasably coupling the first distribution plate and the second distribution plate. 15. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the anode layer comprises Pt, Ru, Hf, Mo, Sn, or combinations thereof. 16. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the cathode layer comprises Pt. 17. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange membrane comprises an acid functional fluoropolymer. 18. A method of testing a fuel cell comprising: providing a fuel cell, the fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly, a first current collector layer having an open mesh structure such that at least 60 percent of an IR transmission can be transmitted, a second current collector layer, and an IR transmissive window, wherein the membrane electrode assembly comprises an ion-conducting membrane having a first catalyst layer on a first major surface of the ion-conducting membrane defining a first catalyst surface and a second catalyst layer on a second major surface of the ion-conducting membrane defining a second catalyst surface, wherein the first catalyst layer is an anode layer and the second catalyst layer is the cathode layer, wherein the anode layer, the cathode layer, or a combination thereof comprises a gradient concentration of a catalyst from one area on the catalyst surface to another area on the same catalyst surface introducing a fuel and an oxidant to the fuel cell; and capturing a thermographic profile of a surface of the membrane electrode assembly with an infrared detector array through the IR transmissive window. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermographic profile is captured as a function of time. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermographic profile is captured by a digital infrared camera having a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of locations on the surface of the membrane electrode assembly. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermographic profile is captured by an IR detector adapted for a plurality of outputs corresponding to a plurality of locations on the surface of the membrane electrode assembly. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein an electrical output of the fuel cell is monitored concurrently with the thermographic profile. 23. The method of claim 18, further comprising introducing the fuel and the oxidant into the fuel cell to generate a current. 24. The method of claim 18, wherein a half-cell potential of the anode layer, the cathode layer, or a combination thereof is recorded. 25. The method of claim 18 comprising obtaining a first thermographic profile while the fuel cell is connected to an electrical load, removing the electrical load, obtaining a second thermographic profile, and subtracting the second thermographic profile from the first thermographic profile. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first thermographic profile and the second thermographic profile are obtained at a constant elevated temperature. 27. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermographic profile is obtained under a constant current. 28. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermographic profile is obtained under a constant voltage. 29. The method of claim 18 wherein the thermographic profile is obtained at an elevated temperature. 30. A system for obtaining a thermographic profile of a fuel cell comprising: a fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly, a first current collector layer having an open mesh structure such that at least 60 percent of an IR transmission can be transmitted, a second current collector layer, and an IR transmissive window, wherein the membrane electrode assembly comprises an ion-conducting membrane having a first catalyst layer on a first major surface of the ion-conducting membrane defining a first catalyst surface and a second catalyst layer on a second major surface of the ion-conducting membrane defining a second catalyst surface, wherein the first catalyst layer is an anode layer and the second catalyst layer is the cathode layer, and, wherein the anode layer, the cathode layer, or a combination thereof comprises a gradient concentration of a catalyst from one area on the catalyst surface to another area on the same catalyst surface; and an infrared detector array.