Cold　start　simulation　analysis　is　widely　recognized　in　the　industry　as　an　efficient　approach　for　rapidly　developing　cold　start　strategies　and　improving　start-up　performance.　Currently,　one-dimensional　models　are　commonly　employed　to　quickly　investigate　the　thermo-hydraulic　behavior　of　fuel　cells　under　various　start-up　strategies,　while　three-dimensional　models　offer　more　intuitive　insights　into　internal　mass　transport　and　phase　change　phenomena.　However,　the　influence　of　key　material　properties　on　cold　start　performance　remains　insufficiently　explored　and　warrants　further　investigation.　Accordingly,　this　study　develops　a　one-dimensional　multiphase　model　to　investigate　how　key　material　parameters　affect　fuel　cell　cold　start　performance.　Results　show　that　optimizing　parameters　such　as　the　thickness　and　contact　angle　of　the　catalyst　layer,　gas　diffusion　layer　thickness,　and　membrane　thickness　can　significantly　reduce　ice　formation　and　improve　cold　start　success.　Specifically,　thicker　gas　diffusion　layers　enhance　moisture　management,　while　an　8-μm　catalyst　layer　balances　ice　accommodation　and　voltage　output.　Higher　contact　angles　lower　freezing　points,　and　increased　membrane　thickness　delays　freezing　and　boosts　internal　heat.　These　optimizations　notably　improve　cold　start　performance　at　−　10 °C　and　−　15 °C.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2025.