Critical importance of humidification of the anode in miniature air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

► Anode dry-out plays a preponderant role in the loss of voltage for a miniature air-breathing PEMFC at low temperature. ► Anode dry-out can occur simultaneously to cathode flooding in a miniature air-breathing PEMFC at low temperature. ► The water that is not evaporated at the cathode is enough to humidify the anode to increase the performance of the cell significantly.