To provide an efficient method to form a functional porous layer, a
functional material being supported on a porous material such that the
content of the functional material has a desired concentration
distribution in the depth direction of the porous layer, a method to
manufacture a fuel cell applying the above method to form a reacting
layer and an electronic device and an automobile having the fuel cell
manufactured by the method as a power supply. A method to form a
functional porous layer including a functional material being supported
on a porous material. The method includes applying a plurality of
solutions or dispersions containing the functional material, the
solutions or the dispersions having different surface tensions, to a
porous layer to control the permeation of the functional material in the
depth direction of the porous layer according to the difference in the
surface tensions.