Water is produced in an electrochem

Water is produced in an electrochemical reaction at the cathode, and to obtain maximal PEMFC efficiency, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) must be kept within a window of optimal hydration. In order to obtain optimal cell performance, the water content within the cell must be maintained at a level such that the catalyst coated membrane (CCM) is well hydrated, so as to promote the ionic conductivity, yet to not reach a point where water accumulation begins to block or restrict the mass transport of the reactant gases to the catalyst sites. Either one of these extreme cases of overall cell hydration can cause degradation of key cell components, or even result in total cell failure [3,4]. Due to these reasons, proper water management is an extremely important aspect of fuel cell operation.