Multiple layer membranes for fuel cells employing direct feed fuels

A fuel cell comprising an anode compartment a cathode compartment and a cation exchange membrane serving as a separator and electrolyte between said anode and cathode compartments, said membrane having an electrode in contact with at least one of its surfaces, said membrane comprising a laminated structure of at least three layers of cation exchange polymer having a polymer backbone and cation exchange groups carried on recurring side chains attached to said polymer backbone with the number of carbon atoms in said polymer backbone in relation to said cation exchange groups defining an ion exchange ratio (IXR) for each layer, said layers having differing IXR values which define one or more high IXR layers and one or more low IXR layers, the IXR of said high IXR layers being higher than the IXR of said low layers, said IXR of said low IXR layers being less than about 17 and said IXR of said high IXR layers being at least about 15, said high and low layers further providing a change in IXR of at least about 2 in at least two locations across the thickness of the membrane.