A fuel cell comprises an electrode plate having a flow field formed therein and a proton exchange membrane. A compressible permeable diffusion media is disposed adjacent the electrode plate. The diffusion media is compressed against the electrode plate so that a portion of the media intrudes into the flow field. A fuel cell stack can be made by compressing a plurality these fuel cells together. The fuel cell stack is compressed so that the diffusion media in each fuel cell is compressed against the adjacent electrode plate with a portion of the media intruding into the flow field in the adjacent electrode plate. The compression of the fuel cell stack can be adjusted so that a magnitude of intrusion of the diffusion media into the flow channels is adjusted and a pressure drop of a predetermined magnitude occurs across the fuel cell stack at a desired operational state.