NOVELTY - Inorganic nanowires comprises a metal catalyst (e.g. platinum) deposited on a surface of the nanowires (e.g. silicon carbide nanowires). The metal catalyst comprises nanometer-sized catalyst particles having a diameter of 1 - 10 nm. The nanowires are made from conducting or semiconducting carbides, nitrides and oxides nanowires. The nanowires are branched structures.    USE - As a nanostructured catalyst support for a membrane electrode assembly including a proton exchange membrane and bipolar plates, useful in a fuel cell such as direct methanol fuel cell and a hydrogen fuel cell (claimed) that is used for stationary and mobile applications and also for use as a compact power supply for microelectronics e.g. laptops, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices.    ADVANTAGE - Nanowires in the nanowire network are physically and/or electrically connected to other wires in the network to form an open, highly branched, porous, intertwined structure, with low overall diffusion resistance for reactants and waste diffusion, high structural stability and high electrical connectivity for the electrons to ensure high catalytic efficiency, thus leading to high power density and lower overall cost. The multiple electrical connectivity of the nanowires, ensures that if one wire breaks or is damaged in the system, for example, that all points along the wire still connect to the anode (or cathode) electrode along different paths (e.g. via other nanowires in the network). Thus, providing improved electrical connectivity and stability as compared to previous packed particle composite structures. Because of the superior connectivity of the nanowire network, the fuel cell may not require a gas diffusion layer between the proton exchange membrane and the first or second bipolar plates as is the case with conventional fuel cells. The use of nanowires and the resulting guaranteed electronic pathway eliminate the problem of conventional proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) strategies where the proton conducting medium would isolate the carbon particles in the electrode layer. The elimination of isolation of the carbon particles supporting the electrode layer, improves the utilization rate of platinum. The nanostructured fuel cell has a higher catalytic metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost than conventional fuel cells.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Metal catalyst is deposited on the nanowires by using a process selected from chemical vapor deposition, electrochemical deposition, electroless chemical plating, physical vapor deposition, solution impregnation and precipitation, colloid particle absorption and desorption, binding through a chemical linker, and/or atomic layer deposition. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (a) a membrane electrode assembly; and    (b) preparing the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly.