an improved method reduces fuel cell performance degradation of an electrode comprising porous components . electrochemical solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells typically have present therein a liquid which expands upon freezing , such as , for example water . the presence of such a liquid within the pores of the electrode components may cause performance degradation of the liquid freezes . the present method comprises employing an impregnant within at least some of the pores of the electrode components . the impregnant inhibits the deterioration of porous fuel cell components caused by expansion of the liquid within the pores when the fuel cell components are subjected to a temperature below the freezing temperature of the liquid . preferably the impregnant does not expand when changing phases from a liquid to a solid . the impregnant may comprise an organic fluid , an organic acid , an inorganic acid , a polymer or dispersion .