NOVELTY - The layer has an interconnected network of spaced apart strands extending longitudinally in a direction. The interconnected network defines a number of openings bonded by an adjacent pair of the spaced apart strands, and a number of openings forming a passage way. A metallic catalyst is in overlaying contact with a portion of spaced apart strands in the interconnected network. The metallic catalyst includes catalyst atoms aligned along the spaced apart strands, where the catalyst atoms are in electronic communication with each other.    USE - Fuel cell catalyst layer for a fuel cell electrode assembly (claimed) of a fuel cell vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The catalyst dissolution can be effectively reduced through the implementation of continuum film of metallic catalysts supported on a mesh substrate. The degradation due to particle dissolution can be prevented due to metallic catalyst that is presented, as a continuum film on the mesh substrate is intrinsically more stable than platinum nano-particles due to the lower surface energy associated with films. The catalyst agglomeration can be effectively reduced and degradation due to particle agglomeration can be avoided. The catalyst layer based on metallic thin film does not contain any particles. The carbon support for the catalyst layers can be reduced or eliminated, so that carbon support corrosion and large Ohmic losses for electron transfer through carbon support can be avoided, as carbon is not necessarily used to support the catalyst in thin film mesh catalyst (TFMC) concept. The peroxide formation that degrades membranes is significantly reduced. The catalyst loading can be reduced through the implementation of the catalysts. The catalysts can potentiate multi-fold increase in catalytic activity. The number of atomic layers deposited on the substrate can be controlled and optimized by utilizing the TFMC concept, thus saving precious metal loading. The thin film in TFMC can be grown to expose single crystalline features of platinum, thus increasing catalytic activity by nine times. The catalyst layers based on TFMC can be recycled by simply removing the mesh/substrate and leaching/smelting the TFMC from the surface.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a fuel cell electrode assembly comprising a proton exchange membrane.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view a thin film mesh catalyst (TFMC) with arbitrary mesh covered with platinum or other catalyst thin film where catalyst atoms are all bonded to each other to form a continuum.