NOVELTY - A catalyst carrier comprises: carbon (21); and a protective layer (22) for carbon with which the carbon is coated, where the protective layer for carbon comprises silicon carbide and silicon oxide.    USE - As catalyst carrier for a fuel cell used in fuel-cell-power generation system (claimed) e.g. polymer electrolyte fuel cell and a direct methanol fuel cell. The fuel-cell-power generation system includes large-scale electricity generation system, small-scale distributed cogeneration system, electric power system for electrical vehicles, electronics devices, a medium-sized or king-sized power generation system such as an air conditioner (absorption air conditioner, heat pump), a suction type heat pump. The catalyst material is used as electrocatalytic material for an air cell.    ADVANTAGE - The corrosion and disappearance of carbon included in a catalyst carrier are inhibited to improve the durability of the fuel cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a catalyst material comprising: the catalyst carrier; and a catalyst supported on the catalyst carrier;    (2) a membrane electrode assembly comprising: an anode; a cathode; and an electrolyte membrane, where the anode comprises the catalyst material and a proton conductive material, and oxidizes fuel, the cathode comprises the catalyst material and a proton conductive material, and reduces oxygen, where the electrolyte membrane is disposed between the anode and the cathode, and has proton conductivity;    (3) a fuel cell comprising: the membrane electrode assembly; a member for supplying fuel; a member for supplying oxygen; and a member for collecting current;    (4) a fuel-cell-power generation system comprising the fuel cell;    (5) manufacturing a catalyst carrier comprising carbon and a protective layer for carbon for coating the carbon, involving: coating the carbon with a precursor of the protective layer for carbon; and subjecting the resulting material to heat treatment after coating the carbon with the precursor, where the precursor comprises at least a polycarbosilane derivative.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a typical sectional view of a fuel cell.    Carbon (21)    Protective layer (22)    Catalyst material (23)