Method for manufacturing a membrane assembly for a fuel cell with catalyst free edge areas; membrane assembly and fuel cell with membrane assembly

A method for manufacturing a membrane assembly for a fuel cell, which membrane assembly comprises

• a membrane with a first side and a second side, and
• a first catalyst layer arranged on the first side of the membrane and a second catalyst layer arranged on the second side of the membrane, wherein
• the first catalyst layer and the second catalyst are at least substantially fully overlapping each other with respect to their extension parallel to the membrane,
• wherein the method comprises the following steps forming the first catalyst layer and the second catalyst layer:
• positioning a first decal layer, which is made of the same material as the first catalyst layer, on the first side of the membrane,
• positioning a second decal layer, which is made of the same material as the second catalyst layer, on the second side of the membrane,
• pressing a compression pad, which is positioned on the first decal layer with respective projections of the first decal layer and the second decal layer into a surface of the compression pad fully overlapping the compression pad, and the second decal layer against each other with the first decal layer and the membrane positioned in-between, whereby pressure on the first and the second decal layer is applied only in an area covered by the compression pad.