TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: The cathode potential is cycled at least 200 times. The activating the electrode assembly comprises maintaining a potential of at least 0.2 V, where the potential is maintained for at least 2 hours. The de-alloying the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprises: cycling the potential of the fuel cell; treating the MEA with an acid to form a de-alloyed MEA; and washing the MEA with a solvent to remove the acid. In the method of treating the membrane electrode assembly with the acid, the acid comprises a concentration of at least 0.5 M. The treating the MEA with acid comprises: exposing the MEA to acid for at least 30 minutes; and removing the MEA from the fuel cell. The first membrane electrode comprises: a catalyst coated membrane prior to de-alloying; and an electrode de-alloyed in-situ or ex-situ. The first membrane electrode assembly is: configured to be de-alloyed by electric potential cycling or by acid; and positioned in contact with the gas. The fabricating a fuel cell comprises positioning the electrode assembly adjacent to a gas media, and activating the electrode assembly. The cycling the potential of the fuel cell comprises: cycling the cathode potential at least 50 times; and a potential change of at least 40 mV/s. Preferred Components: The second membrane electrode assembly comprises a de-alloyed catalyst coated membrane.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In the method, preparing a catalyst suspension further comprises: creating at least one precursor suspension; mixing a metal with the at least one precursor suspension to form a mixture; drying the mixture to form a powder; annealing the powder to form a catalyst precursor; and suspending the catalyst precursor in a solvent to form a catalyst suspension. The step of mixing a metal with the precursor comprises mixing platinum. The step of drying the mixture comprises freeze-drying under vacuum. The freeze-drying comprises freeze-drying at temperature of at least 10 degrees C. The annealing step comprises heating the powder to a temperature of at least 600 degrees C. The coating a membrane comprises: spraying a catalyst suspension onto a membrane; and forming a catalyst paste from the catalyst suspension; and applying the catalyst paste to the membrane. The de-alloying the catalyst coated membrane comprises: treating the catalyst coated membrane with an acid; washing the catalyst-coated membrane with a solvent; and drying the catalyst-coated membrane to form an activated membrane. The drying the catalyst coated membrane comprises heating the catalyst coated membrane. In the method, preparing a catalyst coated membrane further comprises: forming a catalyst solution; coating a membrane with the catalyst solution; and drying the catalyst solution onto the membrane. Preferred Components: The precursor suspension or catalyst comprises at least one metal salt comprising metals in Group IIB, Group IB, Group VIII and/or Group VIIB. The catalyst suspension comprises a metal comprising gold, silver, nickel, palladium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, titanium, scandium, tungsten or vanadium, and/or their alloys. The catalyst suspension comprises copper or platinum. The suspending the catalyst precursor comprises forming a dispersion. The coating a medium comprises coating a membrane. The acid comprises a strong hydrogen donating acid comprising sulfuric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, perchloric acid, hydrobromic acid and/or hydroiodic acid. The gas media comprises: a gas comprising hydrogen, oxygen and/or nitrogen; a temperature of at least 40 degrees C; and a relative humidity of at least 70%. The potential change is at least 100 mV/s. The cycling the potential of the fuel cell in a de-oxygenated environment comprises hydrogen or nitrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The precursor further comprises mixing a copolymer, which comprises dispersing the copolymer to form the catalyst suspension.