Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are efficient and zero emission energy conversion technology with promising application prospects towards carbon neutrality. The PEMFC's performance is largely affected by the poor water management, which is a substantial concern for long term durabi...

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Main Authors: Wei Zhao, Shahid Zaman, Shuhan Kong, Mengqi Liu, Jiexin Zou, Zhen Zhang, Hui Ning, Feng Peng, Yunfei Li, Min Wang, Mingbo Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2025-09-01
Series:Green Chemical Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666952824000177
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author Wei Zhao
Shahid Zaman
Shuhan Kong
Mengqi Liu
Jiexin Zou
Zhen Zhang
Hui Ning
Feng Peng
Yunfei Li
Min Wang
Mingbo Wu
author_facet Wei Zhao
Shahid Zaman
Shuhan Kong
Mengqi Liu
Jiexin Zou
Zhen Zhang
Hui Ning
Feng Peng
Yunfei Li
Min Wang
Mingbo Wu
author_sort Wei Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are efficient and zero emission energy conversion technology with promising application prospects towards carbon neutrality. The PEMFC's performance is largely affected by the poor water management, which is a substantial concern for long term durability. Herein, we overview the water management problems in PEMFCs, such as flooding and dehydration of membrane electrode assembly and analyze the causes and their impacts on the device performance. Major problems such as flooding impedes the gas transport and electrode reactions, while dehydration increases the membrane resistance and hinders proton transport. We have thoroughly overviewed several electrochemical and physicochemical diagnostic techniques for water management in PEMFCs. Additionally, material development and optimization approaches for the flow field structural design are explored in order to improve mass transport and wetting characteristics for optimized water management. Therefore, it is anticipated that this review will provide insights into the effective operation of PEMFCs as well as practical guidance for resolving water management issues in PEMFCs and associated technologies, like PEM water and CO2 electrolyzers.
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publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
record_format Article
series Green Chemical Engineering
spelling doaj-art-7ea79931d2b64cc28da458b9ccf7877e2025-08-20T01:52:25ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Green Chemical Engineering2666-95282025-09-016329130410.1016/j.gce.2024.03.003Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cellsWei Zhao0Shahid Zaman1Shuhan Kong2Mengqi Liu3Jiexin Zou4Zhen Zhang5Hui Ning6Feng Peng7Yunfei Li8Min Wang9Mingbo Wu10College of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, ChinaHydrogen Research Institute, University of Quebec Trois-Rivieres, Québec, G8Z 4M3, CanadaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, ChinaCollege of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, ChinaQingdao Haier Smart Technology R&D Co. Ltd., Qingdao, 266101, ChinaShenzhen Center Power Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, 518120, ChinaCollege of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China; Corresponding author.College of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, ChinaCollege of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, ChinaCollege of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China; Corresponding author.College of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China; Corresponding author.Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are efficient and zero emission energy conversion technology with promising application prospects towards carbon neutrality. The PEMFC's performance is largely affected by the poor water management, which is a substantial concern for long term durability. Herein, we overview the water management problems in PEMFCs, such as flooding and dehydration of membrane electrode assembly and analyze the causes and their impacts on the device performance. Major problems such as flooding impedes the gas transport and electrode reactions, while dehydration increases the membrane resistance and hinders proton transport. We have thoroughly overviewed several electrochemical and physicochemical diagnostic techniques for water management in PEMFCs. Additionally, material development and optimization approaches for the flow field structural design are explored in order to improve mass transport and wetting characteristics for optimized water management. Therefore, it is anticipated that this review will provide insights into the effective operation of PEMFCs as well as practical guidance for resolving water management issues in PEMFCs and associated technologies, like PEM water and CO2 electrolyzers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666952824000177Proton exchange membrane fuel cellsDiagnostic techniqueWater managementDehydrationFlooding
spellingShingle Wei Zhao
Shahid Zaman
Shuhan Kong
Mengqi Liu
Jiexin Zou
Zhen Zhang
Hui Ning
Feng Peng
Yunfei Li
Min Wang
Mingbo Wu
Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Green Chemical Engineering
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Diagnostic technique
Water management
Dehydration
Flooding
title Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
title_full Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
title_fullStr Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
title_full_unstemmed Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
title_short Optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
title_sort optimization strategies and diagnostic techniques for water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
topic Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Diagnostic technique
Water management
Dehydration
Flooding
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666952824000177
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