NOVELTY - A fuel cell assembly (1) for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprises catalyst coated membrane (2) comprising solid polymer electrolyte (3) coated with cathode catalyst and anode catalyst on cathode/anode sides; cathode gas diffusion layer (6); anode gas diffusion layer (7); oxidant flow field plate (9) having oxidant flow field on side adjacent cathode gas diffusion layer; fuel flow field plate (8); seal (10) for sealing oxidant flow field plate to fuel flow field plate at edge seal location (10a); and plastic film frame (12) coated on one side with adhesive (13).    USE - As fuel cell assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack (claimed), where fuel cell includes solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells electrochemically converting fuel and oxidant reactants (e.g. hydrogen and oxygen or air respectively), to generate electric power.    ADVANTAGE - The assembly exhibits greater simplification, reliability, and cost reduction; has simpler construction; and results in reduced parts count, more efficient use of component materials, and improved robustness in associated lamination processes.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A fuel cell assembly (1) for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprises a catalyst coated membrane (2) having first and second surfaces and comprising a solid polymer electrolyte (3) coated with cathode catalyst on a cathode side and with anode catalyst on an anode side; a cathode gas diffusion layer (6) adjacent the cathode catalyst; an anode gas diffusion layer (7) adjacent the anode catalyst; an oxidant flow field plate (9) adjacent the cathode gas diffusion layer, where the oxidant flow field plate comprises an oxidant flow field on the side adjacent the cathode gas diffusion layer; a fuel flow field plate (8) adjacent the anode gas diffusion layer, where the fuel flow field plate comprises a fuel flow field on the side adjacent the anode gas diffusion layer; a seal (10) for sealing an oxidant flow field plate to a fuel flow field plate at an edge seal location (10a); and a plastic film frame (12) having an inner edge (12a) and an outer edge and coated on at least one side with adhesive (13) and framing the catalyst coated membrane, where the adhesive side of the inner edge of the plastic film frame is laminated to the first surface of the catalyst coated membrane, and the adhesive side of the outer edge of the plastic film frame is laminated to that one of the oxidant and fuel flow field plates facing the second surface of the catalyst coated membrane at the edge seal location. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising a series stack of the fuel cell assemblies;    (2) manufacturing the fuel cell assembly involving providing the catalyst coated membrane, the cathode gas diffusion layer, the anode gas diffusion layer, the oxidant flow field plate, the fuel flow field plate, and the seal at the edge of the bipolar flow field plate; providing the plastic film frame coated on at least one side with adhesive; laminating the adhesive side of the inner edge of the plastic film frame to the first surface of the catalyst coated membrane, thereby framing the catalyst coated membrane; laminating the adhesive side of the outer edge of the plastic film frame to that one of the oxidant and fuel flow field plates facing the second surface of the catalyst coated membrane at the edge seal location;    (3) a method of manufacturing a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising a series stack of fuel cell assemblies, involving manufacturing the fuel cell assemblies by the method; stacking the fuel cell assemblies into a series stack; and compressing the elastomeric seals between the oxidant and flow field plates, thereby sealing the fuel cell assemblies. The method involves providing the plastic film frame coated on both sides with adhesive;    (4) a method of manufacturing a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising a series stack of fuel cell assemblies, involving manufacturing the fuel cell assemblies by the method; stacking the fuel cell assemblies into a series stack; and laminating the non-elastomeric seals to the adjacent oxidant and flow field plates, thereby sealing the fuel cell assemblies; or manufacturing the fuel cell assemblies by the method; stacking the fuel cell assemblies into a series stack; and bonding together each oxidant flow field plate adjacent to a fuel flow field plate;    (5) a fuel cell assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising: a catalyst coated membrane having first and second surfaces and comprising a solid polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyte coated with cathode catalyst on a cathode side and with anode catalyst on an anode side; a plastic film frame framing the catalyst coated membrane; a cathode gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode catalyst and extending to the edge of the catalyst coated membrane; an anode gas diffusion layer adjacent the anode catalyst and extending to the edge of the catalyst coated membrane; an oxidant flow field plate adjacent the cathode gas diffusion layer, where the oxidant flow field plate comprises an oxidant flow field on the side adjacent the cathode gas diffusion layer; a fuel flow field plate adjacent the anode gas diffusion layer, where the fuel flow field plate comprises a fuel flow field on the side adjacent the anode gas diffusion layer; and a seal for sealing an oxidant flow field plate to a fuel flow field plate at an edge seal location, where at least one of the flow field plates comprises a transition region adjacent the flow field, the transition region comprises sealing features, and the plastic film frame is laminated to the sealing features of the transition region; and    (6) a method of manufacturing the fuel cell assembly involving providing the catalyst coated membrane, the cathode gas diffusion layer, the anode gas diffusion layer, the oxidant flow field plate, the fuel flow field plate, and the seal at the edge of the bipolar flow field plate; coating the plastic film frame on at least one side with adhesive; and laminating the adhesive side of the plastic film frame to the sealing features of the transition region.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel cell assembly comprising a single plastic film frame with adhesive on one side and laminated to the cathode side of the catalyst coated membrane (CCM) and to the anode flow field plate.    Fuel cell assembly (1)    Catalyst coated membrane (2)    Solid polymer electrolyte (3)    Cathode (4)    Anode (5)    Cathode gas diffusion layer (6)    Anode gas diffusion layer (7)    Fuel flow field plate (8)    Oxidant flow field plate (9)    Elastomeric seal (10)    Edge location (10a)    Plastic film frame (12)    Inner edge of film frame (12a)    Adhesive (13)    Additional adhesive layer (14)