A review of water management methods in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In recent years, fuel cells have gained prominence as a vital sustainable energy source. proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), utilizing hydrogen for electricity generation, have become especially widespread. However, addressing water management challenges remains crucial. Accumulated liquid water in the reaction area hampers reactant access, impacting the reaction rate and protonic conductivity, making effective water management pivotal for optimal PEMFC performance. The current work reports a comprehensive review of many methods to achieve efficient water management to attain higher fuel cell performance and increase its lifetime. Moreover, optimizing the operating conditions, using novel design configurations for the flow fields, and using new materials with specific surface treatment methods to fulfill this desired mission are discussed. A review of the methods used to visualize or model the water generation inside the flow channels and porous layers of PEMFCs is provided. In addition, the most recent water management methods, techniques, and materials are discussed. The challenges and future scopes related to water management in PEMFCs are provided.