Gas diffusion layer for fuel cells

A gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell is formed from a porous material, which porous material comprises a solid matrix and interconnected pores or interstices therethrough that has at least one external surface and internal surfaces, wherein at least a portion of the at least one external surface is coated with one or more layers of at least one electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material preferably has a resistivity less than 20 ohm-cm. Exemplary electrically conductive materials used for coating are metals, such as nickel, gold, platinum, cobalt, chromium, copper, indium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, metal alloys of such materials, salts of such materials, and mixtures thereof, and amorphous carbon or graphite. A single or a series of multiple discrete conductive coating layers may be applied to the foam strands using coating methods such as electroplating, electroless plating, plasma vapor deposition, sputtering, arc forming, dipping and painting.