Water Management by Material Design and Engineering for PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

PEMFCs depend on proper water management to obtain high power density and energy efficiency. Traditionally, water management has been addressed by system design and engineering. That is, by adding processes to the basic PEMFC system to provide humidification to the anode and to remove water from the cathode. This approach adds significant complexities and costs and reduces the overall efficiency of the PEMFC system. Development of new materials and better understanding of the functions of these materials have led to a paradigm shift as to how water management can be implemented in a PEMFC system. In this new paradigm, materials with the right properties will be used in the membrane and electrode assemblies such that zero net water transport across the membrane is achieved. Once this goal is attained the next goal will be to achieve optimal anode and cathode gas humidification and membrane hydration with zero-external- system-water requirement.