Specially prepared gas diffusion media improve the performance of PEM fuel cells. The media are made by first dipping an electrically conductive porous material such as carbon fiber paper into a suspension of hydrophobic polymer and drying the paper to create a desired deposition pattern of hydrophobic polymer on the substrate. Then a paste containing a fluorocarbon polymer and carbon particles is applied to a desired side of the substrate, and thereafter the paste and hydrophobic polymer are sintered together at high temperature on the paper. In particular, nonionic surfactants remain on the carbon fiber paper after the initial hydrophobic polymer is applied to the electrically conductive porous material. When the paste is coated on the dried paper, the paste is in contact with a hydrophilic surface.