Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode and membrane assembly (MEA) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The MEA comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane on each side of which an electrocatalyst layer is provided in a melted state. A perfluorosulfonyl fluoride copolymer powder ranging, in particle size distribution, from 20 to 200 &mgr;m is hot-pressed at 200-250° C. to give a pre-formed sheet whose opposite sides are then coated with a catalyst ink consisting of Pt/C powder, glycerol and water. This catalyst ink-coated preformed sheet is again subjected to hot pressing at 200-250° C. to embed the catalyst ink into the pre-formed sheet. Hydrolysis in NaOH/methanol or H2SO4 solution converts the membrane of the sheet from a non-ionized form to an ionized form.