ABSTRACT
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are also known as ion exchange membrane fuel cells (IEMFCs), solid polymer (electrolyte) fuel cells (SP(E)FCs), polymer electrolyte (membrane) fuel cells (PE(M)FCs), etc. They have increasingly become the most promising candidates as the zero-emission power source for transportation, stationary co-generation and portable applications in the last decade, and research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities have also expanded into a variety of practical applications, ranging from small units of a few watts to power home electronic devices such as cellular phones, personal computers, to medium sizes of a few kilowatts for residential cogeneration (electricity and heat or hot water), and large systems of around 50kW for electric passenger vehicles and a couple of hundred kilowatts for urban transit buses. In recent years, proton exchange membrane fuel cells have been in the spotlight due to significant technical advances and successful demonstration projects of PEMFC power systems for urban transit buses and passenger cars. At present, PEMFC is being intensively developed worldwide and its commercialization is dawning.
