Characteristics of high-water-uptake activated carbon/Nafion hybrid membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

► A cost-effective and high-throughput method for producing high-water-uptake membrane is developed. ► Activated carbon/Nafion hybrid membranes exhibit high-water-uptake and improved proton conductivity. ► The hybrid membrane displays a better performance to that of the commercial Nafion 211 when used in fuel cell measurements. ► The hybrid membranes reveal lower resistances during the operation of the PEMFC test.