Effects of conducting channels microstructure in proton exchange membrane on the performance of fuel cells

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell has been identified as the most promising power source for portable electronic apparatus and automobile power devices due to its unique advantages, such as high conversion efficiencies, high power density and fast start-ups at room temperature. The proton conducting channels in proton exchange membranes are attracting more and more attention, because they have significant influence on the proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes. The construction of well-aligned proton conducting channels in the membrane can not only achieve higher proton conductivity, but also improve the methanol barrier property, thermal stability and chemical stability of proton exchange membranes. The research progress of the proton conducting channels is reviewed in this paper, and the well-aligned proton conducting channels obtained by controlling the morphology of the membranes and their improvements on the performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells are also discussed. The present review attempts to summarize the effects of different types of morphologies and the resulting aligned proton conducting channels on the properties of proton exchange membranes as well as the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In the end, the outlook for future development of proton conducting channels in proton exchange membranes is also prospected.