TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The electrode defines a continuous layer supporting the membrane. The electrically conductive member is adjacent to the electrode and includes an active layer (13). The electrode and/or the active layer comprise a central region and a peripheral region; and a gradient of electrochemically active material exists between the central region and the peripheral region so that a content of the electrochemically active material is greater in the central region than the peripheral region. Each electrode and active layer catalyst comprises catalyzed carbon particles dispersed in a binder. The electrode and active layer catalysts can be different from, or same as, each other.The electrode has a peripheral extent the same as the membrane. The central region has a first group of catalyzed particles dispersed in the binder. The peripheral region has a second group of particles dispersed in a binder that are catalyzed or uncatalyzed. The binder of the central and peripheral regions is the same. Particles of the first and second group are catalyzed with catalyst to provide the catalyst content. Each central and peripheral region provides similar mechanical support to the ionically conductive member, thus minimizing flexing of the membrane. The peripheral region can be thermally conductive or electrically non-conductive. The electrode is in the form of a continuous layer. The peripheral region encompasses the central region. The first group of particles is dispersed in an ionically conductive binder, and the second group of particles is dispersed in an ionically non-conductive binder. The electrically conductive member includes an intermediate layer (15) comprising carbon particles dispersed in a binder that couples the active layer and the electrically conductive member. The intermediate layer is a water management layer.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The second group of particles are zirconium oxide, zeolites, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, and/or fumed silica. The catalyst is platinum, palladium, titanium, ruthenium, rhodium, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, iridium, and/or osmium.Preferred Parameter: Each particle has a particle size of less than or equal to15 microns.Preferred Composition: The electrode catalyst content includes 25-100% of the total catalyst content of the assembly. The active layer catalyst content includes 0-75% of the total catalyst content of the assembly. A total catalyst content of the assembly is 0.05-0.4 mg/cm2.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Material: The catalyst can be alloys of platinum, palladium, titanium, ruthenium, rhodium, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, iridium, and osmium.