Abstract text

The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly comprising a) two electrochemically active electrodes (1, 3) separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane (5) wherein the surfaces of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5) are in contact with the electrodes (1, 3) in such a way that the first electrode (1) partially or totally covers the front of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5) and the second electrode (3) partially or totally covers the back of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5); b) two gasket layers (15, 17) made of a first gasket material wherein the first gasket layer (15) partially covers the front of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5) and/or the first electrode (1) and the second gasket layer (17) partially covers the back of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5) and/or the second electrode (3); wherein the membrane electrode assembly also comprises a second gasket material (7, 9) on the front of the first gasket layer (15) and on the back of the second gasket layer (17); each of the gasket layers (15, 17) comprises at least one recess (11, 12); the second gasket material (7) on the front of first gasket layer (15) is in contact with the second gasket material (9) on the back of the second gasket layer (17). The present membrane electrode assemblies may be used in particular for producing fuel cells which have a particularly high long-term stability.