Gas distribution structures and gas diffusion electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas distributor with a hydrophobized, laminated carbon carrier with 2 surfaces, one with a contact layer of an intimate mixture of 40-90 wt.% finely-divided carbon particles and hydrophobic polyethylene, polypropylene and/or polytetrafluoroethylene, hydrophobization comprises only 2 hydrophobic polymer layers, which extend to a depth of 5-40 Microm from both surfaces and fill 20-60% of the carrier pore volume in this region. Independent claims are also included for: (a) gas diffusion electrodes for fuel cells, comprising the gas distributor structure and an electrolyte layer on the contact layer; (b) membrane electrode units for fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and gas diffusion electrodes on both sides; at least one of which is the cited gas diffusion electrode; (c) polymer electrolyte fuel cells with the specified membrane electrode unit; and (d) three methods of producing the gas distributor structure.