As the global energy transition progresses towards cleaner alternatives, hydrogen energy emerges as a crucial component for the future energy landscape. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are key in harnessing hydrogen energy due to their efficiency and zero-emission properties. However, challenges like cost, durability, and power density hinder their large-scale adoption. Research is concentrated on optimizing cathode flow fields to enhance water management and mass transfer, crucial for boosting PEMFC performance. Bionic designs mimicking biological structures have shown promising outcomes by improving reactant distribution and power density. Incorporating metal foam in flow fields has demonstrated enhanced mass transfer and power density through porosity adjustments. Collaborative optimization studies on flow fields and operating parameters further aim to achieve peak PEMFC performance, reflecting a positive outlook on hydrogen energy innovation.