A method of making a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprising: providing an anode, a cathode, and an ion-exchange membrane interposed therebetween; providing an electrically insulating oxide which is functionalized with an antioxidant or with a chelating agent which is complexed with an antioxidant to form an antioxidant additive; and applying the antioxidant additive to at least one of the anode, the cathode, and the ion-exchange membrane. The antioxidant is at least one of a radical scavenger, a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst or a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer.
