NOVELTY - A membrane electrode assembly comprises electrolyte membrane (10) having anodic catalyst layer (22) on one side and cathodic catalyst layer (24) on the opposite side; anodic current collector-protecting layer (32) disposed on the anodic catalyst layer; cathodic current collector-protecting layer (34) disposed on the cathodic catalyst layer; anodic current collector (36) and cathodic current collector (38); anodic diffusion layer (42) disposed on the anodic current collector; and cathodic diffusion layer (44) disposed on the cathodic current collector.    USE - For fuel cell, e.g. proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), or a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC).    ADVANTAGE - Electrical resistance is minimized by including a current collector between catalyst layer and fuel diffusion layer inside electrodes to shorten the electron transfer distance. Corrosion of the current collector due to direct contact between the current collector and the catalyst in the catalyst layer is prevented by including an electrically conductive current collector-protecting layer. A fuel cell stably exhibits constant performance for a prolonged period of time, and has excellent efficiency due to low electrical resistance.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) fuel cell comprising the membrane electrode assembly; and    (2) electrode of a membrane electrode assembly comprising a catalyst layer; a current collector protecting layer; a current collector; and a fuel diffusion layer, where the current collector-protecting layer is between the current collector and the catalyst layer, and the current collector and current collector-protecting layer are between the diffusion layer and the catalyst layer.    The assembly further comprises support layers on the anodic diffusion layer and the cathodic diffusion layer, respectively.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a cross-sectional view of a membrane electrode assembly.    Electrolyte membrane (10)    Anodic catalyst layer (22)    Cathodic catalyst layer (24)    Anodic current collector-protecting layer (32)    Cathodic current collector-protecting layer (34)    Anodic current collector (36)    Cathodic current collector (38)    Anodic diffusion layer (42)    Cathodic diffusion layer (44)