In low-temperature fuel cells according to prior art, the problem often
arises that the diffusion layer of the cathode is filled by water which
is permeated or produced on the cathode, such that oxygen can no longer
be transported to the catalyst layer of the cathode in a frictionless
manner. As a result, said fuel cells are regularly used with a high
excess of oxygen in order to reduce the cited transport problems for the
oxygen. The inventive fuel cell enables said problem to be solved in that
the arrangement of the diffusion layer and the catalyst layer of the
cathode is inverted. The diffusion layer, which is embodied in such a way
as to also conduct ions, is directly adjacent to the electrolyte
membrane. The catalyst layer oriented towards the free cathode space can
advantageously directly react with the supplied oxygen without further
transport problems. A further advantage lies in the fact that the water
produced on the catalyst layer of the cathode and/or permeated by the
electrolyte membrane and the diffusion layer can be easily withdrawn via
the free cathode space.