NOVELTY - An improved membrane electrode assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell, comprises: (i) two porous electrode layers; (ii) ion exchange membrane between the electrode layers; (iii) quantity of electrocatalyst; and (iv) fluid impermeable seal integral with the membrane electrode assembly and comprising a rigid sealant material impregnated into the electrode layers in sealing regions and having raised rib(s).    USE - For electrochemical fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - The electrode assembly simplifies and reduces the number of individual or separate components involved in sealing in a fuel cell stack since this reduces assembly time and cost of manufacturing.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An improved membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for an electrochemical fuel cell, comprises two porous electrode layers (140); ion exchange membrane (130) between the electrode layers, where the electrode layers and membrane are coextensive; quantity of electrocatalyst at the interface between the membrane and each of the electrode layers, thus defining an electrochemically active area on each of the electrode layers; and fluid impermeable seal (110) integral with the membrane electrode assembly and comprising a rigid sealant material (125) impregnated into the electrode layers in sealing regions and having raised rib(s) (160). The seal envelops a peripheral region of both electrodes and ion exchange membrane.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method of making a membrane electrode assembly, comprising placing the ion exchange membrane between the two electrode layers; bonding the ion exchange membrane to the two electrode layers; placing the two electrode layers and ion exchange membrane between the two sheets of rigid sealant material; bonding the sheets of rigid sealant material together; impregnating a portion of the rigid sealant material into portions of the two electrode layers to form an integral seal; and forming rib(s) in major surface(s) of the integral seal.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a partial section view of an edge portion of the membrane electrode assembly.    Seal (110)    Sealant material (125)    Membrane (130)    Electrode layers (140)    Raised rib (160)