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An electrochemical cell includes an anode including an anode catalyst, a cathode including a cathode catalyst, and a first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles between the anode and the cathode, such that the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is not in contact with the anode

An electrochemical cell includes an anode including an anode catalyst, a cathode including a cathode catalyst, and a first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles between the anode and the cathode, such that the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is not in contact with the anode. The cathode may be a cathode assembly including a gas diffusion electrode, a cathode catalyst on the gas diffusion electrode, and proton-conducting metal nanoparticles on the cathode catalyst.

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1. An electrochemical cell, comprising: an anode comprising an anode catalyst,a cathode comprising a cathode catalyst, anda first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles between the anode and the cathode;where the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles comprises palladium and is not

1. An electrochemical cell, comprising: an anode comprising an anode catalyst,a cathode comprising a cathode catalyst, anda first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles between the anode and the cathode;where the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles comprises palladium and is not in contact with the anode with the proviso that the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles does not include platinum,the cathode further comprises a gas diffusion electrode,the cathode catalyst is directly on the gas diffusion electrode, andthe first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is directly on the cathode catalyst. 2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, where the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is present at a level of at least 0.1 mg/cm2 of an active area of the cathode. 3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, where the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles further comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, titanium, and nickel alloys. 4. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, further comprising at least one element between the anode and the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles, where the element is selected from the group consisting of a channel, a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a liquid electrolyte in a host material. 5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, further comprising a channel between the anode and the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles, the channel comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet. 6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, further comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode and the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles. 7. The electrochemical cell of claim 6, further comprising a channel between the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles and the cathode, the channel comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet. 8. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, further comprising a liquid electrolyte in the channel. 9. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, where at least 90 weight percent of the transition metal content of the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is palladium. 10. An electrochemical cell, comprising: an anode comprising an anode catalyst,a cathode comprising a cathode catalyst,a first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles between the anode and the cathode; anda matrix material directly on the cathode catalyst,where the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles comprises palladium and is not in contact with the anode with the proviso that the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles does not include platinum,the cathode further comprises a gas diffusion electrode,the cathode catalyst is directly on the gas diffusion electrode, andthe first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is present as a mixture with the matrix material. 11. The electrochemical cell of claim 10, where the matrix material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an inorganic network, an organic network, a membrane, and combinations thereof. 12. The electrochemical cell of claim 10, where at least 90 weight percent of the transition metal content of the proton-conducting metal nanoparticles is palladium. 13. A method of making the electrochemical cell of claim 1, comprising: placing the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles between the anode and the cathode.placing the first set of proton-conducting metal nanoparticles on at least one of the cathode, the polymer electrolyte membrane, or the host material. 14. A method of generating electricity from the electrochemical cell of claim 1, comprising: contacting the cathode with an oxidant, andcontacting the anode with a fuel,where complementary half cell reactions take place at the cathode and the anode. 15. A method of generating electricity from the electrochemical cell of claim 10, comprising: contacting the cathode with a flow of gaseous oxidant,flowing a liquid electrolyte through the channel, andcontacting the anode with a fuel,where complementary half cell reactions take place at the cathode and the anode.