High-Performance Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL)｜Surface & Bulk PTFE Hydrophobic Reinforcement
DiffuCarb® W1S1011T is a hydrophobic-enhanced version of the original W1S1011 carbon cloth with a microporous layer (MPL).
By applying surface (single-side or double-side) or bulk PTFE hydrophobic treatment, the carbon cloth exhibits significantly improved water repellency and drainage performance.
The PTFE used is DuPont™ original-grade, ensuring high chemical stability, thermal endurance, and long service life.
This material is particularly suitable for fuel cells, water electrolysis systems, metal–air batteries, and CO₂ electroreduction (CO₂RR) applications that require precise liquid-water management.
| Layer | Structure | Functional Role |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Cloth Substrate | PAN-based woven carbon fiber cloth | Provides electronic conductivity, mechanical support, and flexibility |
| Microporous Layer (MPL) | Conductive carbon black + PTFE binder | Optimizes gas diffusion paths, prevents catalyst layer flooding |
| Hydrophobic Enhancement Layer | Surface or bulk PTFE coating | Increases contact angle and drainage ability, mitigates blockage and water accumulation |
| Type | Description | Features & Suitable Scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Sided (Surface-Type) | PTFE mainly adheres to the top surface of the MPL or carbon cloth, with minimal penetration; surface appears white | Ideal for improving catalyst-layer drainage or flow-field-side water removal |
| Single-Sided (Subsurface-Type) | PTFE penetrates slightly beneath the MPL or carbon cloth surface; retains near-original color; light whitish tone at high loading | Maintains surface conductivity while improving internal water management |
| Double-Sided Hydrophobic Enhancement | PTFE adheres to both MPL and carbon-cloth sides; both surfaces appear white | Suitable for high-humidity or high-water-pressure conditions such as PEMWE or humidified PEMFCs |
| Bulk Hydrophobic Enhancement | PTFE penetrates through the entire thickness forming a fully hydrophobic structure | Designed for deep water-resistant applications such as flow batteries, AEM electrolysis, and CO₂RR systems |
📌 All types can be customized with 1–50 wt% PTFE content, or alternatively treated with FEP for flexible or hot-press lamination needs.
🌊 Contact angle >120° — prevents liquid film formation and gas-channel blockage
💧 Enhanced water drainage — mitigates flooding and liquid accumulation, improving gas diffusion at the reaction interface
🔋 Improved durability — maintains electrical and mechanical integrity under humid or wet conditions
🧱 Excellent structural compatibility — suitable for Nafion overcoating, amphiphilic catalyst layers, and FEP lamination designs
⚡ Customizable water management strategy — tunable hydrophobic gradient and gas–liquid equilibrium per system design
| Hydrophobic Treatment Type | PTFE Content Range (wt%) |
|---|---|
| Single-Sided (MPL Surface/Subsurface) | 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% |
| Single-Sided (Carbon Cloth Surface/Subsurface) | 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% |
| Double-Sided (MPL + Carbon Cloth) | 0.5%+0.5%, 5%+5%, 10%+10%, 15%+15%, 20%+20% |
| Bulk Hydrophobic Structure | 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40% |
📌 Available in rolls, sheets, or custom-cut pieces; optional hole punching, slotting, lamination, and surface morphology tailoring.
| Application | Functional Benefits |
|---|---|
| PEM Fuel Cell Cathode | Prevents cathode flooding; improves drainage and long-term stability |
| PEM Water Electrolyzer (PEMWE) Cathode | Reduces back diffusion of liquid water; enhances hydrogen evolution efficiency |
| AEM Electrolysis Systems | Balances gas–liquid diffusion; improves electrode stability |
| CO₂ Electroreduction (CO₂RR) Electrodes | Maintains gas–liquid interface gradient; enhances CO₂ transport and utilization |
| Metal–Air & Microbial Fuel Cells | Prevents electrolyte infiltration; extends cycle life |
| Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells | Resists alcohol/water penetration; maintains efficient power output |
Minimum order: from 1 piece (sample available)
Standard sizes: 5×5 cm, 10×10 cm, 20×20 cm (custom sizes available)
Lead time: stock items 1–3 days; custom orders 3–5 days
Invoice: research-use VAT invoice available
Shipping: global delivery via SF Express, DHL, FedEx, or EMS
Hydrophobic carbon cloths of this class have been successfully applied in numerous high-impact publications, including:
Chemical Engineering Journal — Biofuel cell for glycerol oxidation using Galactose Oxidase/Bilirubin Oxidase cascade
Journal of Energy Chemistry — V₂O₅ nanospheres encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanofibers for aqueous Zn-ion batteries
Nature Communications — Chloride shuttle mechanism in rechargeable Zn–Cu batteries
Fuel — Laser-written MoNi₄@graphene self-supported electrodes for urea oxidation
Polymer — One-step synthesis of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose gel polymer electrolytes for supercapacitors
Journal of Water Process Engineering — EDLC-based enhancement for ammonia recovery from digested liquids
ACS Nano — Graphdiyne oxide/Au nanocomposites for non-enzymatic glucose sensing
Journal of Materials Research and Technology — TC4 anodic film/carbon fiber composites in marine friction–corrosion environments
Advanced Functional Materials — Ni/Fe–O–N–C hierarchical sites for multi-metal ion sensing
📧 Email: contact@scimaterials.cn
📞 WhatsApp & Tel: +86 153-7569-8751
🔗 Place quick orders on our eBay / Amazon stores.
🌐 We ship worldwide via DHL, FedEx, UPS, SF-Express, or other requested carriers.
📦 Bulk quantities with discount available upon request.
💳 Payment methods accepted: Bank Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card (via Taobao), Alipay, WeChat Pay
| Reinforcement Type | PTFE Reinforcement Ratio | 5×5 cm | 10×10 cm | 20×20 cm | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Side (MPL Surface) | 1% | $8 | $24 | $72 | White surface; enhances catalyst layer hydrophobicity |
| 5% | $9 | $27 | $84 | ||
| 10% | $11 | $33 | $102 | ||
| 20% | $15 | $45 | $138 | ||
| 30% | $22 | $66 | $198 | ||
| 40% | $30 | $90 | $270 | ||
| 50% | $40 | $120 | $360 | ||
| Single Side (MPL Subsurface) | 1% | $8 | $24 | $72 | PTFE penetrates shallow layer; retains surface conductivity |
| 5% | $9 | $27 | $84 | ||
| 10% | $11 | $33 | $102 | ||
| 20% | $15 | $45 | $138 | ||
| 30% | $22 | $66 | $198 | ||
| 40% | $30 | $90 | $270 | ||
| 50% | $40 | $120 | $360 | ||
| Single Side (Carbon Paper Surface) | 1% | $8 | $24 | $72 | White surface; enhances flow-field drainage |
| 5% | $9 | $27 | $84 | ||
| 10% | $11 | $33 | $102 | ||
| 20% | $15 | $45 | $138 | ||
| 30% | $22 | $66 | $198 | ||
| 40% | $30 | $90 | $270 | ||
| 50% | $40 | $120 | $360 | ||
| Single Side (Carbon Paper Subsurface) | 1% | $8 | $24 | $72 | Shallow infiltration; ideal for two-phase flow control |
| 5% | $9 | $27 | $84 | ||
| 10% | $11 | $33 | $102 | ||
| 20% | $15 | $45 | $138 | ||
| 30% | $22 | $66 | $198 | ||
| 40% | $30 | $90 | $270 | ||
| 50% | $40 | $120 | $360 | ||
| Double-Sided Reinforcement (Symmetrical) | 1% (0.5% + 0.5%) | $8 | $24 | $72 | Both sides white; universal dual-face structure |
| 5% (2.5% + 2.5%) | $9 | $27 | $84 | ||
| 10% (5% + 5%) | $11 | $33 | $102 | ||
| 20% (10% + 10%) | $15 | $45 | $138 | ||
| 30% (15% + 15%) | $22 | $66 | $198 | ||
| 40% (20% + 20%) | $30 | $90 | $270 | ||
| 50% (25% + 25%) | $40 | $120 | $360 | ||
| Bulk Reinforcement (Through-Thickness) | 1% | $8 | $24 | $72 | PTFE fully penetrates; deep hydrophobic structure |
| 5% | $9 | $27 | $84 | ||
| 10% | $11 | $33 | $102 | ||
| 20% | $15 | $45 | $138 | ||
| 30% | $22 | $66 | $198 | ||
| 40% | $30 | $90 | $270 | ||
| 50% | $40 | $120 | $360 |
Dimensions: 5×5 cm, 10×10 cm, 20×20 cm standard; custom cutting and roll sizes available.
Double-Sided Ratio: e.g. “20% (10% + 10%)” = 10% PTFE each side.
Bulk Reinforcement: PTFE penetrates through the entire thickness, forming a fully hydrophobic structure ideal for flow batteries, PEMWE, and CO₂RR.
MOQ: Single sheet available.
Lead Time: In stock 1–3 days; customized 3–5 days.
| Type | Structural Features | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Single Side (MPL Surface) | PTFE mainly on MPL surface, white appearance, minimal internal infiltration | Enhances catalyst-layer drainage; reduces flooding |
| Single Side (MPL Subsurface | PTFE penetrates shallow MPL layer; retains conductivity | Improves internal water removal while maintaining surface contact |
| Single Side (Carbon Paper Surface) | PTFE covers outer carbon paper surface, white appearance | Improves flow-field drainage; anti-flooding performance |
| Single Side (Carbon Paper Subsurface) | PTFE infiltrates sub-surface region of carbon paper | Balances gas–liquid management on flow-field side |
| Double-Sided (Symmetrical) | Both MPL and carbon sides enhanced, white on both sides | Ideal for humid or high-pressure fuel cell operation |
| Bulk Reinforcement (Through-Thickness) | PTFE throughout full thickness; hydrophobic skeleton | Suitable for flow batteries, electrolysis, and CO₂RR |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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