In the last decades, fuel cells are exceptionally capable and environmentally responsive energy exchange devices and have received great attention for the energy investigation. The components of fuel cells and its fabrication techniques essentially affect the performance of fuel cell. The gas diffusion electrode (GDE) is considered to be one of the key components of PEMFC. In the present work, hot pressing technique has been used for the fabrication of GDEs and were studied in detail. The catalyst loadings of 0.25, 0.5 and 2 mgPt/cm(2) with different charging of carbon were layered on the surface of GDL opposite the membrane and its performance are correlated by using two different oxidants i.e. air and oxygen. The fuel cell performances have been compared by using performance curve at different cell stack temperature. The optimum catalyst loading for highest current density and power density was found to be 0.25 mgPt/cm(2) on anode side and 0.5 mgPt/cm(2) on cathode side. Surface quality of these GDLs have been investigated with the help of scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis by performing top surface and cross-sectional scan and confirms the effectiveness of hot-pressing method for better quality catalyst. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.