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 gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, including a flat electrically conductive material and/or a sintered product of the flat electrically conductive material. The flat electrically conductive material includes at least one fiber material selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber nonwoven fabrics, carbon fiber woven fabrics, and a combination thereof. The at least one fiber material includes at least one fluorine-containing polymer and at least one polymer different from the at least one fluorine-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaryletherketones, polyphenylene sulfides, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, partially aromatic (co)polyamides, polyimides, polyamide-imides, polyether-imides and combinations thereof. The at least one fluorine-containing polymer and the at least one polymer different from the at least one fluorine-containing polymer are applied to the at least one fiber material and/or incorporated therein.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell includes: a) a flat, electrically conductive fiber material; and b) a microporous layer on one surface of the fiber material. The gas diffusion layer has, with respect to a base area thereof (in an xy plane), at least one property gradient relating to at least one chemical and/or physical property.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive nonwoven fabric that is carbonized and/or graphitized and possesses a bending rigidity <8 taber, a density of 0.1 g/m3 to 0.5 g/m3, a thickness of 80 ?m to 500 ?m, and an electrical conductivity of 10 to 300 S/cm in the nonwoven fabric strip and 30 to 220 S/cm2 perpendicular to the nonwoven fabric strip.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer having a layer (2) comprising fibers (1), whereby the fibers (1) are partially provided with a coating material (3), whereby the fibers (1) lie against each other at contact sites (4) and whereby the layer (2) has boundary surfaces (5) facing the surroundings—in terms of achieving the envisaged objective of ensuring an optimal electric conductivity—is characterized in that the fibers are freed of coating material (3) at the contact sites and/or at the boundary surfaces. Furthermore, a method is proposed for the production of a gas diffusion layer, said method comprising the step that the coating material (3) is selectively removed from the fibers (1) in certain areas.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer, including at least two functional areas (2a, 2b) which are operationally linked to one another, the first area (2a) having a porous structure and the second area (2b) being designed as a stabilization zone, achieves the object of providing a system which implements problem-free operation of a fuel cell while optimizing its efficiency. A system which includes two gas diffusion layers and a method for manufacturing the gas diffusion layer achieve the further cited objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive nonwoven fabric that is carbonized and/or graphitized and possesses a bending rigidity <8 taber, a density of 0.1 g/m3 to 0.5 g/m3, a thickness of 80 ?m to 500 ?m, and an electrical conductivity of 10 to 300 S/cm in the nonwoven fabric strip and 30 to 220 S/cm2 perpendicular to the nonwoven fabric strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive nonwoven fabric that is carbonized and/or graphitized and possesses a bending rigidity <8 taber, a density of 0.1 g/m3 to 0.5 g/m3, a thickness of 80 &mgr;m to 500 &mgr;m, and an electrical conductivity of 10 to 300 S/cm in the nonwoven fabric strip and 30 to 220 S/cm2 perpendicular to the nonwoven fabric strip.