Gas diffusion electrode and use thereof

A method comprising:

• forming a micro-structuring on an electron conducting layer by irradiating the electron conducting layer with laser radiation, the electron conducting layer having a first side and an opposite second side, the micro-structuring formed on the first side of the electron conducting layer, wherein the micro-structuring comprises a plurality of pinecone-shaped projections pointing away from the first side of the electron conducting layer, wherein each of the pinecone-shaped projections has a base diameter, a height, and an aspect ratio of the base diameter to the height within a range from approximately 1:3 to 3:1, wherein the pinecone-shaped projections each has a base with a diameter in a range from approximately 10 μm to approximately 30 μm and a tip having a diameter from approximately 1 μm to approximately 5 μm, and wherein the height of each of the pinecone-shaped projections is the distance between the base and the tip;
• and
• forming a gas diffusion electrode by bringing the hydrophilic first side of the electron conducting layer and a hydrophobic membrane in contact with each other, the hydrophobic membrane having a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the second side of the membrane is arranged on the first side of the electron conducting layer, wherein the electron conducting layer comprises a plurality of electrolyte channels each of which extends from the first side of the electron conducting layer to the second side of the electron conducting layer.