Self-humidifying fuel cell

A self-humidifying polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly having a membrane/electrode assembly (MEA), the MEA including an ion-exchange membrane interposed between a pair of electrodes, the MEA interposed between a pair of gas diffusion layers, the fuel cell comprising:

• a fuel flow field plate having a fuel stream inlet, a fuel stream outlet, and means for flowing a fuel stream therebetween;
• an oxidant flow field plate having an oxidant stream inlet, an oxidant stream outlet, and means for flowing an oxidant stream therebetween;
• and
• at least one membrane hydration enhancement zone, wherein said at least one membrane hydration enhancement zone comprises an uncatalyzed area of said membrane and at least one uncatalyzed area of said electrodes, said uncatalyzed electrode area adjacent to said uncatalyzed membrane area.

A method for maintaining membrane hydration in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, the fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) interposed between gas diffusion layers, the gas diffusion layers interposed between fuel and oxidant flow field plates, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing fuel and oxidant reactants into said fuel cell through respective fuel and oxidant inlets, at least one of said reactants introduced in a dry, non-humidified state;
• communicating said fuel and oxidant reactants through respective fuel and oxidant flow field channels;
• and
• exhausting said reactants through fuel and oxidant outlets, wherein said fuel and oxidant flow field channels are noncontiguous and interdigitated, and the step of communicating further comprises communicating the fuel and oxidant reactants from fuel and oxidant inlet channel lengths, through the respective fuel and oxidant diffusion layers in countercurrent directions, to fuel and oxidant outlet channel lengths, respectively, whereby relatively less hydrated gas flows are opposed to relatively more hydrated gas flows to increase moisture gradient and moisture transfer through and to the membrane.