Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) prepared with various polymer binders in their catalyst layers (CLs) were investigated to optimize the performance of phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). The properties of these binders in the CLs were evaluated by structure characterization, electrochemical analysis, single cell polarization and durability test. The results showed that polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) are more attractive as CL binders than conventional PBI or Nafion binder. At ambient pressure and 160 degrees C, the maximum power density can reach similar to 0.61 W cm(-2) (PTFE GDE), and the current density at 0.6 V is up to ca. 0.52 A cm(-2) (PVDF GDE), with H-2/air and a platinum loading of 0.5 mg cm(-2) on these electrodes. Also, both GDEs showed good stability for fuel cell operation in a short term durability test. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.