The present invention relates to a method for the production of a membrane
electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane with two
opposing membrane surfaces and a cathode and an anode electrode each
comprising a catalyst layer and a gas distribution layer. Each catalyst
layer is interposed between a membrane surface and the corresponding gas
distribution layer. The catalyst layer of the cathode and/or the catalyst
layer of the anode comprise at least two sub-layers. According to the
present invention at least one of the sub-layers of the cathode electrode
and/or the anode electrode is applied directly to the surface of the
membrane while the remaining sub-layers are applied to the corresponding
gas distribution layers. Finally the assembly of the coated membrane and
the coated gas distribution layers is produced.