To improve the cyclic performance of a unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) employing a carbon-based gas diffusion layer (GDL), a novel IrO2/Pt/IrO2 layered-electrode structure was proposed in which Pt is sandwiched between two IrO2 layers in contact with a membrane and a GDL. It was found that the distribution of Pt and IrO2 catalysts in the electrode has an enormous influence on the cyclic performance of the URFC. The developed three layered electrode showed the same round trip efficiency but much higher cyclic performance compared with the conventional homogeneously mixed electrode based on cyclic performance test. The improved cyclic performance is attributed to the unique layered electrode structure that prevents direct contact between the Pt and the GDL, resulting in the suppression of electrochemical carbon corrosion of the GDL. (C) 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.