TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The adhesive comprises hot-melt adhesive, e.g. ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyamide, polyolefin, and/or polyester; or silicone, polyurethane, fluoroelastomer, thermoplastic elastomers, epoxides, phenoxies, acrylics, and/or pressure sensitive adhesives. The adhesive provides mechanical support to a peripheral surface of the ionically conductive mechanism. The electrically conductive mechanism is a gas diffusion medium (10, 12) or pores. The adhesive is imbibed into pores of the electrically conductive mechanism. The adhesive at least inhibits diffusion of reactant gas through the ionically conductive mechanism at a peripheral surface of the ionically conductive mechanism. The adhesive provides a seal between the electrically conductive mechanism and ionically conductive mechanism. The electrode is formed on the ionically conductive mechanism or electrically conductive mechanism. The assembly includes microporous layer formed on the electrically conductive mechanism. The microporous layer is a water management layer. The adhesive is applied as a slug or film. The adhesive includes projecting portion injected molded at peripheral edge of fuel cell. The fuel cell projecting portion provides mechanical support at peripheral edge of said fuel cell. The fuel cell includes microporous layer formed on electrically conductive mechanism. The microporous layer is a water management layer. The electrode is formed on ionically conductive mechanism. The electrode is formed on electrically conductive member Preferred Methods: The method includes pre-treating surfaces the electrode, ionically conductive mechanism, and electrically conductive mechanism; and applying a primer or coupling agent to the surfaces of the electrode, ionically conductive mechanism, and electrically conductive mechanism prior to applying the adhesive. The pre-treating of the surfaces of the electrode, the ionically conductive mechanism, and the electrically conductive mechanism is by radio-frequency glow-discharge treatment, a sodium naphthalate etching treatment, a corona discharge treatment, and/or a flame treatment. The adhesive is applied by injection molding. The adhesive is applied by spraying. The pre-treating of the surfaces of the electrode, the ionically conductive mechanism, and the electrically conductive mechanism is by a plasma treatment, the plasma treatment, i.e. plasma- based time treatment, a plasma-based UV treatment, a plasma-based UV/ozone treatment, an atmospheric pressure discharge plasma treatment, or a low pressure plasma treatment. The plasma treatment is dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment, a DC sputter deposition plasma treatment, an RF magnetically enhanced sputter deposition plasma treatment, an RF and microwave etching plasma treatment, an RF, microwave magnetically enhanced etching plasma treatment, a sputter etching plasma treatment, an RF sputter etching plasma treatment, an ion beam etching plasma treatment, a glow discharge plasma treatment, or a capacitive coupled plasma treatment.