NOVELTY - The method involves forming a nano pattern in a catalyst support on a surface of each of multiple catalyst layers constituting a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) through a plasma etching process, where the nano pattern includes a set of fine protrusion structures. A hydrophobic thin film is formed on the nano pattern that is formed in the catalyst support on the surface of each catalyst layer, where the hydrophobic thin film is a silicon and oxygen included hydrocarbon thin film or a fluorine included hydrocarbon thin film.    USE - Method for manufacturing a MEA for a fuel cell i.e. polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), of a fuel cell stack for a vehicle. Uses include but are not limited to motor vehicle e.g. passenger automobile such as sports utility vehicles (SUV), bus, lorry and various commercial vehicle, watercraft such as boat and ship, and aircraft, hybrid vehicle e.g. petrol-powered vehicle and electric-powered vehicle, electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and hydrogen-powered vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The method enables forming the nano pattern with a high aspect ratio on a surface of the catalyst support to increase a reaction surface area and hydrophobicity of the MEA, thus manufacturing the MEA with a superhydrophobic catalyst layer. The MEA has a surface including a set of self-cleaning and droplet-repellent functions for applying the MEA to the fuel cell to smoothly discharge water generated from an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell, thus utilizing an MEA surface material for maintaining cell performance, increasing water discharge performance of the MEA by increasing the hydrophobicity of the surface of the catalyst layer up to superhydrophobicity, and easily commercializing the MEA by simplifying the method.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The plasma etching process is performed by one of an ion beam method, a hybrid plasma chemical deposition method and an atmospheric plasma method, and carried out by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) or plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD).    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view illustrating a process for forming a nano pattern with a high aspect ratio on a surface of a catalyst support of a catalyst layer constituting a MEA.