Advances in membranes and electrocatalysts to optimize proton-exchange membrane fuel cells

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102728

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have attracted substantial global attention from academia, industry, and policymakers due to their critical role in enabling clean and efficient energy conversion. This momentum is increasingly reflected in real-world applications, including the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles and growing interest in heavy-duty transport solutions. However, PEMFCs still face major barriers to widespread adoption—chief among them are high system costs and limited durability. These challenges largely stem from the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the functional core of the fuel cell. Accordingly, extensive research efforts have focused on advancing MEA materials, particularly membranes and electrocatalysts, to enhance performance while reducing cost and improving longevity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in both state-of-the-art and emerging MEA materials alongside fabrication strategies and their associated trade-offs. By outlining key limitations and proposing future research directions, this work highlights the urgent need for durable, efficient, and scalable solutions to drive PEMFC commercialization in sectors such as transportation, energy storage, and distributed power generation.