Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises an ion exchange membrane, an anode positioned on one side of the membrane and a cathode positioned on the other side of the membrane so that a portion of the cathode extends outside of the anode area on the oxidant outlet side of the fuel cell such that any hydrogen leaked from the anode side to the cathode side due to any defects (holes) existing in the membrane near the oxidant outlet is recombined with the oxygen on the cathode side before it reaches the oxidant outlet and no hydrogen is present in the oxidant stream exhausted from the fuel cell.