Vacuum-assisted drying of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

► Vacuum pressure was applied to a PEMFC to dry the membrane. ► The vacuum-drying performance was compared to dry N2 purging method. ► Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to monitor the drying process. ► An equivalent circuit model was used to analyze the membrane resistance and anode charge-transfer resistance. ► Experimental results show vacuum-assisted drying methods provide a higher water removal rate than dry N2 purging.