Local hydrophilic gas diffusion layer and fuel cell stack comprising the same

A fuel cell stack comprising:

• a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer disposed on each of both sides of the electrolyte membrane;
• a separator including a gas channel;
• and
• a local hydrophilic gas diffusion layer stacked between the membrane electrode assembly and the separator to receive a clamping pressure of the fuel cell stack from a pair of lands formed on the separator and including a first region under each land of the separator, which is subjected to hydrophilic treatment, and a second region under the gas channel, which is not subjected to hydrophilic treatment.

A gas diffusion layer comprising:

• a first region under each land of the separator which receives a clamping pressure of a fuel cell stack from a pair of lands protruding from a separator, the pair of lands forming a gas channel;
• and
• a second region under the gas channel of the separator,
• wherein the first region is subjected to hydrophilic treatment.