A coating for a gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a fuel cell or battery. The coating comprises a dispersion of carbon black, a fluoropolymer, and one of graphite and carbon particulates, in which the size of the particulates are substantially larger than the size of the particles of carbon black and provide structural integrity to the coating so as to minimize cracking thereof. The size of the particles of carbon black may lie within the range of approximately 13-95 nm. The carbon particulates may be chopped carbon fibers, carbon or graphite flakes or platelets, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibrils, or carbon whiskers. The carbon particulates may have a high length to diameter ratio.