GDS-T / GDS-F Series Hydrophobic Carbon Paper
High-Performance Hydrophobic Carbon Paper Solutions Based on CeTech GDS Substrate
Scientific Materials Hub has developed two high-performance hydrophobic carbon paper series based on CeTech GDS raw carbon paper:
These products are designed for advanced electrochemical applications requiring optimized gas–liquid management and stable three-phase interfaces.
Core Functions and Improvements
Through engineered hydrophobic treatment, the GDS-T / GDS-F series significantly improve:
Key Application Areas
⚡ PEM Fuel Cells (PEMFC)
⚡ CO₂ Electroreduction (CO₂RR)
⚡ Water Electrolysis (AEMWE / PEMWE)
⚡ Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDE)
⚡ Metal–Air Batteries
⚡ Electrocatalysis and Energy Storage Systems
Difference Between GDS-T and GDS-F
| Type | GDS-T | GDS-F |
|---|
| Hydrophobic Material | PTFE | FEP |
| Key Feature | Classic and stable | More uniform and flexible |
| Thermal Press Compatibility | Good | Superior |
| Suitable Applications | PEMFC / Standard GDL | GDE / CCM / Advanced structures |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Hydrophobicity Definition
Hydrophobicity refers to the mass ratio of hydrophobic agent in the final carbon paper:
Hydrophobicity = PTFE (or FEP) / (Carbon Paper + PTFE/FEP)
Customizable Hydrophobic Levels
Scientific Materials Hub supports a wide range of hydrophobic tuning:
| Hydrophobic Level | Application Characteristics |
|---|
| 1%–5% | Mild hydrophobicity |
| 10%–20% | Standard fuel cell use |
| 30%–40% | Enhanced flood resistance |
| 50%–60% | High gas diffusion demand |
| 70%–80% | Ultra-hydrophobic special applications |
Custom Structures Available
Single-side hydrophobic treatment
Double-side hydrophobic treatment
Gradient hydrophobic structure
Localized pattern hydrophobicity
GDS Substrate & Hydrophobic Model Mapping
| GDS Base Paper | Thickness (mm) | PTFE Version | FEP Version |
|---|
| GDS090S | 0.09 | GDS090T | GDS090F |
| GDS180S | 0.18 | GDS180T | GDS180F |
| GDS180SHT | 0.18 | GDS180GT | GDS180GF |
| GDS210 | 0.21 | GDS210T | GDS210F |
| GDS250 | 0.25 | GDS250T | GDS250F |
| GDS310 | 0.31 | GDS310T | GDS310F |
Core Product Advantages
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|
| High Porosity Structure | Enhanced gas transport efficiency |
| Excellent Conductivity | Reduced interfacial resistance |
| Tunable Hydrophobicity | Adaptable to different systems |
| Strong Corrosion Resistance | Suitable for acidic/alkaline environments |
| MPL-Free Structure | Easy secondary processing |
| Catalyst Loading Capability | Suitable for GDE / MEA fabrication |
Typical Applications
| Application | Function |
|---|
| PEMFC | Gas diffusion layer (GDL) |
| CO₂ Electrolysis | GDE / zero-gap electrode |
| Water Electrolysis | HER / OER electrodes |
| Metal–Air Batteries | Air electrode |
| Electrocatalysis | Catalyst support |
Custom Services by SCI Materials Hub
Scientific Materials Hub provides:
Customized hydrophobic levels
Tailored dimensions and cutting
Single/double-side hydrophobic processing
GDE fabrication support
MEA / CCM manufacturing
Electrolyzer system integration solutions
FAQ
Q1: How to choose PTFE vs FEP?
Q2: Is higher hydrophobicity always better?
Not necessarily.
Excessive hydrophobicity may cause:
Optimization is required based on system design.
Q3: Is single-side hydrophobic treatment available?
Yes.
Options include:
Q4: Is it suitable for catalyst coating and GDE fabrication?
Yes.
Compatible with:
Catalyst spraying
Hot pressing
GDE fabrication
CCM production
Summary
The GDS-T (PTFE) and GDS-F (FEP) hydrophobic carbon paper series are developed from CeTech GDS raw carbon paper, offering:
High electrical conductivity
Excellent hydrophobic performance
High porosity
Strong mechanical stability
They are key materials for fuel cells, CO₂ electrolysis, water electrolysis, and GDE-based systems.
SCI Materials Hub provides:
Multi-specification in-stock products
Customized hydrophobic treatments
GDE / MEA integrated solutions
Full electrochemical system support
Enabling advanced electrochemical research and industrial-scale applications.
Partial references citing our materials (from Google Scholar)

Carbon Dioxide Reduction
1. ACS Nano Strain Relaxation in Metal Alloy Catalysts Steers the Product Selectivity of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction
The bipolar membrane (Fumasep FBM) in this paper was purchased from SCI Materials Hub, which was used in rechargeable Zn-CO2 battery tests. The authors reported a strain relaxation strategy to determine lattice strains in bimetal MNi alloys (M = Pd, Ag, and Au) and realized an outstanding CO2-to-CO Faradaic efficiency of 96.6% with outstanding activity and durability toward a Zn-CO2 battery.
2. Front. Chem. Boosting Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction on Atomically Dispersed Nickel Catalyst
In this paper, Vulcan XC-72R was purchased from SCI Materials Hub. Vulcan XC 72R carbon is the most common catalyst support used in the anode and cathode electrodes of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC), Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC), Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC), Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFC), and many more!
3. Adv. Mater. Partially Nitrided Ni Nanoclusters Achieve Energy-Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO at Ultralow Overpotential
An AEM membrane (Sustainion X37-50 Grade RT, purchased from SCI Materials Hub) was activated in 1 M KOH for 24 h, washed with ultra-purity water prior to use.
4. Adv. Funct. Mater. Nanoconfined Molecular Catalysts in Integrated Gas Diffusion Electrodes for High-Current-Density CO2 Electroreduction
In this paper (Supporting Information), an anion exchanged membrane (Fumasep FAB-PK-130 obtained from SCI Materials Hub (www.scimaterials.cn)) was used to separate the catholyte and anolyte chambers.
SCI Materials Hub: we also recommend our Fumasep FAB-PK-75 for the use in a flow cell.
5. Appl. Catal. B Efficient utilization of nickel single atoms for CO2 electroreduction by constructing 3D interconnected nitrogen-doped carbon tube network
In this paper, the Nafion 117 membrane was obtained from SCI Materials Hub.
6. Vacuum Modulable Cu(0)/Cu(I)/Cu(II) sites of Cu/C catalysts derived from MOF for highly selective CO2 electroreduction to hydrocarbons
In this paper, Proton exchange membrane (Nafion 117), Nafion D520, and Toray 060 carbon paper were purchased from SCI Materials Hub.
7. National Science Review Confinement of ionomer for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction via efficient mass transfer pathways
An anion exchange membrane (PiperION-A15-HCO3) was obtained from SCI Materials Hub.
8. Catalysis Communications Facilitating CO2 electroreduction to C2H4 through facile regulating {100} & {111} grain boundary of Cu2O
Carbon paper (TGPH060), membrane solution (Nafion D520), and ionic membrane (Nafion N117) were obtained from Wuhu Eryi Material Technology Co., Ltd (a company under SCI Materials Hub).
Batteries
1. J. Mater. Chem. A Blocking polysulfides with a Janus Fe3C/N-CNF@RGO electrode via physiochemical confinement and catalytic conversion for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Graphene oxide (GO) in this paper was obtained from SCI Materials Hub. The authors introduced a Janus Fe3C/N-CNF@RGO electrode consisting of 1D Fe3C decorated N-doped carbon nanofibers (Fe3C/N-CNFs) side and 2D reduced graphene oxide (RGO) side as the free-standing carrier of Li2S6 catholyte to improve the overall electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries.
2. Joule A high-voltage and stable zinc-air battery enabled by dual-hydrophobic-induced proton shuttle shielding
This paper used more than 10 kinds of materials from SCI Materials Hub and the authors gave detailed properity comparsion.
The commercial IEMs of Fumasep FAB-PK-130 and Nafion N117 were obtained from SCI Materials Hub.
Gas diffusion layers of GDL340 (CeTech) and SGL39BC (Sigracet) and Nafion dispersion (Nafion D520) were obtained from SCI Materials Hub.
Zn foil (100 mm thickness) and Zn powder were obtained from the SCI Materials Hub.
Commercial 20% Pt/C, 40% Pt/C and IrO2 catalysts were also obtained from SCI Materials Hub.
3. Journal of Energy Chemistry Vanadium oxide nanospheres encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanofibers with morphology and defect dual-engineering toward advanced aqueous zinc-ion batteries
In this paper, carbon cloth (W0S1011) was obtained from SCI Materials Hub. The flexible carbon cloth matrix guaranteed the stabilization of the electrode and improved the conductivity of the cathode.
4. Energy Storage Materials Defect-abundant commercializable 3D carbon papers for fabricating composite Li anode with high loading and long life
The 3D carbon paper (TGPH060 raw paper) were purchased from SCI Materials Hub.
5. Nanomaterials A Stable Rechargeable Aqueous Zn–Air Battery Enabled by Heterogeneous MoS2 Cathode Catalysts
Nafion D520 (5 wt%), and carbon paper (GDL340) were received from SCI-Materials-Hub.
6. SSRN An Axially Directed Cobalt-Phthalocyanine Covalent Organic Polymer as High-Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Zn-Air Battery
Carbon cloth (W0S1011) and other electrochemical consumables required for air cathode were provided by SCI Materials Hub.
Oxygen Reduction Reaction
1. J. Chem. Eng. Superior Efficiency Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Acidic Media through Epoxy Group Adjacent to Co-O/C Active Centers on Carbon Black
In this paper, Vulcan XC 72 carbon black, ion membrane (Nafion N115, 127 μL), Nafion solution (D520, 5 wt%), and carbon paper (AvCarb GDS 2230 and Spectracarb 2050A-1050) were purchased from SCI Materials Hub.
2. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Gaining insight into the impact of electronic property and interface electrostatic field on ORR kinetics in alloy engineering via theoretical prognostication and experimental validation
The 20 wt% Pt3M (M = Cr, Co, Cu, Pd, Sn, and Ir) were purchased from SCI Materials Hub. This work places emphasis on the kinetics of the ORR concerning Pt3M (M = Cr, Co, Cu, Pd, Sn, and Ir) catalysts, and integrates theoretical prognostication and experimental validation to illuminate the fundamental principles of alloy engineering.
Water Electrolysis
1. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Gold as an efficient hydrogen isotope separation catalyst in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis
The cathodic catalysts of Pt/C (20 wt%, 2–3 nm) and Au/C (20 wt%, 4–5 nm) were purchased from SCI Materials Hub.
2. Small Science Silver Compositing Boosts Water Electrolysis Activity and Durability of RuO2 in a Proton-Exchange-Membrane Water Electrolyzer
Two fiber felts (0.35 mm thickness, SCI Materials Hub) were used as the porous transport layers at both the cathode and the anode.
3. Advanced Functional Materials Hierarchical Crystalline/Amorphous Heterostructure MoNi/NiMoOx for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution with Industry-Level Activity and Stability
Anion-exchange membrane (FAA-3-PK-130) was obtained from SCI Materials Hub website.
Fuel Cells
1. Polymer Sub-two-micron ultrathin proton exchange membrane with reinforced mechanical strength
Gas diffusion electrode (60% Pt/C, Carbon paper) was purchased from SCI Materials Hub.
Characterization
1. Chemical Engineering Journal Electrochemical reconstitution of Prussian blue analogue for coupling furfural electro-oxidation with photo-assisted hydrogen evolution reaction
An Au nanoparticle film was deposited on the total reflecting plane of a single reflection ATR crystal (SCI Materials Hub, Wuhu, China) via sputter coater.