NOVELTY - The membrane (100) has a set of interconnectors containing conductive members and provided on lateral faces of an electrolyte membrane (22), where the lateral faces are placed counter to each other in a neighboring direction of membrane electrode assemblies (20). The interconnectors include a support portion protruding towards a central region of an electrolyte on a cathode side of the electrolyte membrane, where the support portion is in contact with a cathode- side surface of an edge of the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is held by the support portion.    USE - Composite membrane for use in a fuel cell (claimed) i.e. planar array fuel cell, used as a power source in space application, automobile, large and small scale power generation system and a mobile device e.g. cell phone, notebook-size personal computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), MPEG-1 audio layer-3 (MP3) player, digital camera, electronic dictionary and electronic book.    ADVANTAGE - The edge of the electrolyte membrane is supported by the support portion of the interconnectors from the cathode side, so that the electrolyte membrane is less likely to be deformed and fractured if pressure of fuel gas in a fuel gas chamber rises and the pressure is applied to the electrolyte membrane, thus improving the reliability of a planar array fuel cell. The membrane includes a projection extending and protruding from the support portion towards the central region of the electrolyte membrane, thus increasing the area of the electrolyte membrane supported by the interconnectors, and hence enhancing the reliability of the fuel cell. The projection functions as a current collecting member, so that the conductivity of the fuel cell on the cathode side can be improved and the internal resistance of the fuel cell can be reduced.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:    (1) a method for making a composite membrane    (2) a method for making a fuel cell layer.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows an exploded perspective view of a fuel cell.    Membrane electrode assemblies (20)    Electrolyte membrane (22)    Cathode housing (50)    Anode housing (52)    Composite membrane (100)