Abstract: A method for producing a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, including providing a fiber composition which includes carbon fibers and/or precursors of carbon fibers and subjecting the fiber composition to a method for producing a fibrous web. The method further includes consolidating the fibrous web by exposure to aqueous fluid jets to form a nonwoven, water used by the aqueous fluid jets having a conductivity of at most 250 microsiemens/cm at 25° C. If the fiber composition includes precursors of carbon fibers, the nonwoven is subjected to pyrolysis at a temperature of at least 1000° C.

Abstract: A separator with a main part which is made of nonwoven material, and is provided with a coating. The coating contains filler particles, cellulose, and flexible organic binder particles. The filler particles and flexible organic binder particles are connected to each other by the cellulose. Such a separator exhibits high permeability with increased mechanical stability. The cellulose of the separator contains cellulose derivatives that have a chain length of at least 100 repeating units, preferably a chain length of at least 200 repeating units.