Titanium was coated onto an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL) by direct current sputtering to improve the performance and durability of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the GDLs were thoroughly coated with titanium, which showed angular protrusion. Single-cell performance of the PEMFCs with titanium-coated GDLs as anodes was investigated at operating temperatures of 25 degrees C, 45 degrees C, and 65 degrees C. Cell performances of all membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with titanium-coated GDLs were superior to that of the MEA without titanium coating. The MEA with titanium-coated GDL, with 10 mm sputtering time, demonstrated the best performance at 25 degrees C, 45 degrees C, and 65 degrees C with corresponding power densities 58.26%, 32.10%, and 37.45% higher than that of MEA without titanium coating. Copyright (c) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.