Reactant Transport
Distributes hydrogen, air and other reactant gases between the flow field and catalyst layer.
A versatile gas diffusion layer platform designed for PEM fuel cells, selected HT-PEMFC systems, automotive fuel cells, stationary power generation, CHP systems and advanced MEA development.
In a proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell, the gas diffusion layer is a core component of the membrane electrode assembly. It connects the catalyst layer with the flow field while simultaneously controlling gas transport, electron conduction, water removal and mechanical support.
Freudenberg® H23-series GDLs use a flexible carbon-fiber paper substrate combined with a single-sided microporous layer. Different grades are configured for distinct humidity conditions, gas-flow requirements, electrical-resistance targets and fuel-cell system architectures.
The series can support applications ranging from laboratory MEA development and single-cell testing to automotive PEMFC stacks, high-humidity stationary systems and combined heat and power platforms.
Distributes hydrogen, air and other reactant gases between the flow field and catalyst layer.
Conducts electrons from the catalyst layer toward the bipolar plate while limiting contact resistance.
Balances liquid-water discharge and membrane hydration under changing operating conditions.
Provides mechanical support for the catalyst layer and helps preserve a uniform reaction interface.
Supports pressure distribution, dimensional consistency and stable long-term stack contact.
Different grades use distinct substrate and MPL structures to address high-humidity, low-humidity, air-cooled and dynamic automotive operating conditions.
The single-sided MPL improves catalyst-layer contact, supports more uniform gas distribution and assists water management at the electrode interface.
Selected H23 grades provide through-plane resistance values as low as 6.5 mΩ·cm², helping reduce the electrical contribution of the GDL to total cell loss.
The flexible substrate supports easier assembly, improved compression accommodation and more stable contact within the membrane electrode assembly.
Values are presented in the form available for each grade. Gurley time and intrinsic permeability are based on different test methods.
| Grade | Thickness | MPL | PTFE Treatment | Gas-Transport Value | Through-Plane Resistance | Engineering Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H23C2 | 220 μm | Single-sided | No | Gurley 50 s | 9 mΩ·cm² | High-humidity systems |
| H23C3 | 235 μm | Single-sided | Yes | Gurley 15 s | 9 mΩ·cm² | Low-humidity and air-cooled systems |
| H23C5 | 220 μm | Single-sided | No | Gurley 25 s | 6.5 mΩ·cm² | Low-resistance automotive applications |
| H23C6 | 250 μm | Single-sided | Yes | Gurley 70 s | 8 mΩ·cm² | High-humidity stationary systems |
| H23C8 | 205 μm | Single-sided | Yes | Gurley 80 s | 8 mΩ·cm² | Automotive and dynamic-load platforms |
| H23C14 | 215 μm | Single-sided | No | Gurley 0.5 s | 6.5 mΩ·cm² | Specialized flow-field development |
| H23C15 | 210 μm | Single-sided | No | Gurley 15 s | 6.5 mΩ·cm² | General MEA research platform |
| H23Cx653 | 250 μm | Single-sided | Yes | 1.4 μm² | 7 mΩ·cm² | High-performance automotive PEMFC |
Technical note: A lower Gurley time generally indicates easier air passage when measurements are conducted using the same method and conditions.
Permeability expressed in μm² and Gurley time expressed in seconds should not be directly converted or ranked without reviewing the relevant test standard.
Final selection should be validated using the actual flow field, humidity, compression, gas stoichiometry and catalyst-layer design.
Ratings below represent the SCI Materials Hub engineering classification for preliminary grade selection.
| Grade | High-Humidity PEMFC | Low-Humidity PEMFC | HT-PEMFC | CHP System | Automotive PEMFC | Air-Cooled Fuel Cell | Primary Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H23C2 | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
| H23C3 | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | |
| H23C5 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | |
| H23C6 | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
| H23C8 | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | |
| H23C14 | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
| H23C15 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
| H23Cx653 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Recommended where membrane hydration, continuous operation and stable water management are major design priorities.
Positioned for systems requiring more stable membrane hydration and electrode performance under relatively dry operating conditions.
Recommended for automotive stacks requiring low resistance, rapid dynamic response and controlled transport under changing power demand.
Balanced options for laboratory testing, reference-electrode preparation and comparative MEA development.
Ratings summarize application positioning rather than replacing cell-level validation.
SCI Materials Hub supplies Freudenberg H23-series GDL materials for laboratory research, pilot-scale development and industrial evaluation.
Freudenberg-series carbon-paper GDL materials for research and engineering evaluation.
Small-format sheets suitable for single-cell testing, catalyst coating and MEA development.
Larger sheets and bulk quantities for pilot-scale or repeated electrode preparation.
Precision cutting for rectangular, circular and custom-shaped fuel-cell electrodes.
Material matching, electrode processing and membrane-electrode assembly support.
Supporting membranes, ionomers, catalysts, GDLs and other electrochemical test materials.
Preliminary recommendations based on humidity, current density, flow-field design and compression.
Supply support for universities, research institutes and industrial fuel-cell development teams.
The microporous layer is positioned between the carbon-paper substrate and the catalyst layer. It helps distribute gases, improve catalyst-layer contact, manage liquid water and reduce local interface resistance.
The H23 grades listed in this guide use a single-sided MPL structure.
PTFE modifies surface wetting and can help reduce liquid-water accumulation, preserve gas pathways and limit cathode flooding. Grades listed with PTFE treatment include H23C3, H23C6, H23C8 and H23Cx653.
H23Cx653 is positioned as an advanced automotive option. H23C5 and H23C8 may also be evaluated for automotive PEMFC systems requiring low resistance and dynamic operation.
H23C2 and H23C6 are the primary options in this guide for high-humidity stationary power and CHP systems.
It may be evaluated in selected laboratory studies, but the H23 series is primarily designed for fuel-cell applications. Commercial PEM electrolyzers commonly use porous titanium transport layers where corrosion resistance is required.
H23C15 and H23C5 provide useful starting points for general MEA research, comparative single-cell testing and catalyst-layer development.
Yes. In a standard fuel-cell assembly, the smoother MPL-coated side should normally face the catalyst layer, while the fibrous substrate side faces the flow field or bipolar plate.
No. They are based on different measurement principles. Gurley time measures the time required for a defined amount of air to pass through the material, while permeability in μm² represents an intrinsic flow-related property.
No. Electrical resistance is only one selection parameter. Water management, gas transport, thickness, compression, mechanical stability and the operating humidity must also be considered.
Select the initial grade according to humidity, current density, power demand and system type. The material should then be validated under the actual flow field, gas pressure, catalyst loading, compression and operating temperature.
Single-sided microporous-layer carbon-paper gas diffusion media supplied by SCI Materials Hub in standard research sizes.
Select your preferred marketplace to view available products, shipping options and order information.
Reference retail prices for individually supplied research-size sheets.
| Product Grade | Thickness | 5 × 5 cm | 10 × 10 cm | 20 × 20 cm | 40 × 45 cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freudenberg H23C2 | 220 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23C3 | 235 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23C5 | 220 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23C6 | 250 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23C8 | 205 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23C14 | 215 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23C15 | 210 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
| Freudenberg H23Cx653 | 250 μm | US$16.00 | US$50.00 | US$160.00 | US$570.00 |
Contact our team for full-sheet supply, bulk purchasing, custom cutting, institutional orders and long-term cooperation.
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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