Electrochemistry of Proton Conducting Membrane Fuel Cells

Work presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Proton Conducting Membrane Fuel Cells is reviewed here. For these fuel cells to become commercially successful there are a number of challenges to be met. For instance, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell needs more active catalysts and cheaper, more durable, membranes. In addition, an improved understanding of the deterioration mechanisms of the membrane electrode assemblies is required. New work on all these aspects is described here. Work on direct methanol fuel cells is also reported, focusing on more effective anode catalysts and new proton conducting membrane materials with reduced permeability to methanol.