TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In the method (M1), the fluorocarbon renders the modified carbon material more hydrophobic or more hydrophilic. Adding the compound (i) involves adding an amount of the compound (i) such that the ratio of R' to carbon material is 0.25-5 mmol/g. Agitating the mixture involves agitating the mixture at 0-100 degrees C for 1-10 days. Adding the compound (i) involves adding a compound where R' comprises a perfluorocarbon having formula CnF2n; involves adding a compound where R' comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid precursor group having sulfonyl fluoride end group; involves adding a compound where R' comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid precursor group having formula CnF2nSO2F; and involves adding a compound where R' comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid precursor molecule having formula CnF2nOCnF2nSO2F. The method (M1) further involves subjecting the modified carbon material to a hydrolysis reaction to convert the sulfonyl fluoride end group to an end group comprising a sulfonate functional group having formula SO3M'; and subjecting the modified carbon material to an acidification reaction to convert the end group comprising a sulfonate functional group to a sulfonic acid end group. The subjecting the perfluorosulfonic acid precursor group to a hydrolysis reaction involves mixing the modified carbon material with water, organic solvent, and metal hydroxide. The subjecting the perfluorosulfonic acid precursor group to an acidification reaction involves mixing the carbon material with an acid. The providing the carbon material suitable for use in a fuel cell component involves providing at least one of graphite, carbon black, vitreous carbon, activated charcoal, carbon aerogel, carbon fiber, or activated carbon. The forming a mixture by mixing the carbon material with an organic solvent involves mixing the carbon material with at least one of dimethylsulfur oxide, dichloromethane, dimethylformide, acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or diethyl carbonate. The adding a reductant to the mixture involves adding at least one of sodium hydrosulfite (Na2S2O4) or copper. The method (M2) further involves separating the modified carbon material from the mixture; and fabricating the modified carbon material into a fuel cell component. In the method (M3), the forming a mixture involves mixing the compound (i), where R' comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid precursor molecule having formula CnF2nSO2F or CnF2nOCF2nSO2F. The method (M3) further involves separating the modified carbon material from the mixture, and fabricating the modified carbon material into fuel cell component.M'=Li, Na, K, or tetraalkylammonium.Preferred Product: In the product (P1), the fuel cell component comprises one of gas diffusion medium layer, microporous layer, or catalyst layer. The fluorocarbon group is a perfluorocarbon group or a perfluorosulfonic acid group. In the product (P2), the fluorocarbon groups comprise a perfluorocarbon group or a perfluorosulfonic acid group. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.