An electrolysis cell for electrolyzing water into hydrogen and oxygen. The electrolysis cell includes a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), a porous transport layer (PTL), and an anode catalyst layer. The PTL includes a PTL surface facing the PEM and including a PTL surface morphology. The anode catalyst layer is deposited on the PTL surface morphology to form a porous transport electrode (PTE) on the PTL surface including contact regions between the PEM and the PTL. The PTL includes noncontact regions between the contact regions along the PTL surface morphology. The noncontact regions are spaced apart from the PEM.