Fuel cell variable catalyst loading

Fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly (4, 6) comprising an ionically conductive member (50) and an electrode (94), said electrode (94) having an active area (96, 98) comprising a catalyst; a flow field (65) having a plurality of flow paths (86) which face the electrode (99); wherein the catalyst in the active region (96, 98) along at least one flow path (86) is distributed in a non-uniform loading, so that a varied electrochemical activity along the flow path (86); characterized, in that the active region (96, 98) of the electrode (94) comprises a perimeter region (96) and a central region (98) and the catalyst loading in the peripheral region (96) is less than in the central region (99).