Knowledge　of　the　temperature　distribution　on　the　membrane　electrode　assembly　(MEA)　surface　and　heat　transfer　processes　inside　a　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　(PEMFC)　is　helpful　to　improvement　of　cell　reliability,　durability　and　performance.　The　temperature　fields　on　the　surface　of　MEA　fixed　inside　a　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　with　a　serpentine　channel　flow　bed　were　measured　by　infrared　imaging　technology　under　non-humidification　conditions.　The　temperature　distributions　over　the　MEA　surface　under　whole　channel　region　were　achieved.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　downstream　temperatures　are　higher　than　the　upstream.　The　hot　region　on　the　MEA　surface　is　easy　to　locate　from　the　infrared　temperature　image.　The　mean　temperature　on　the　MEA　surface　and　the　cell　temperature　both　increase　with　the　current　density.　Higher　current　density　makes　the　non-uniformity　of　temperature　distribution　on　the　MEA　surface　worse.　The　loading　time　significantly　affects　the　temperature　distribution.　Compared　with　the　electrical　performance　of　the　cell,　the　MEAs　temperatures　need　much　more　time　to　reach　stable.　The　results　indicate　that　isothermal　assumption　is　not　appropriate　for　a　modeling　of　PEMFCs,　and　monitoring　the　temperature　of　external　surface　of　the　flow　field　plate　or　end　plate　cannot　supply　accurate　reference　to　control　the　temperatures　on　MEA　surface.　(c)　2005　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.