TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The polymeric electrolyte material comprises an ion-conductive polymer, proton-exchange membrane or perfluorosulfonic acid resin membrane. The metal film comprises a metal permeable to protons. The fuel cell uses a fuel, and the metal film comprises a metal impermeable to the fuel. The fuel is methanol. The fuel cell uses a fuel, and the metal film comprises a metal both permeable to protons and impermeable to the fuel. The metal film prevents any unreacted fuel from passing through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode of the fuel cell. The metal film is adapted to filter impurities and contaminants, where the impurities and contaminants are prevented from passing through the electrolyte material. The fuel cell is characterized by an anode reaction and a cathode reaction, and the metal film comprises a catalyst for at least one of the anode reaction and the cathode reaction of the fuel cell. The metal film comprises a transition metal. The metal film comprises a metal-carbon composite material. The metal film is discontinuous. The hydrophilic layer is adapted to provide adhesion between the polymeric electrolyte material and the metal film. The hydrophilic layer comprises a polymer having an acid group branch. The polymer having an acid group branch comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyethersulfone, and cellulose, the selected polymer being modified to have an acid group branch. The hydrophobic polymer surface is a fluoropolymer surface. The hydrophobic polymer and hydrophilic substance is sulfonated. The hydrophobic polymer surface is a polymeric electrolyte material surface. The polymeric electrolyte material comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid resin membrane. The noble metal, the hydrophilic substance, and the polymeric electrolyte material, combined together, form a composite electrolyte for a fuel cell.Preferred Parameters: The hydrophilic layer has thickness of less than or equal to 10 (preferably less than or equal to 1) microns.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal film comprises a metal such as platinum, palladium, tantalum, niobium, nickel, and/or their alloys. The acid group branch comprises a sulfonic acid group.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal film comprises a metal such as platinum, palladium, tantalum, niobium, nickel, and/or their alloys. The acid group branch comprises a sulfonic acid group.