Water　and　nitrogen　can　accumulate　in　the　anode　channel　in　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cells　(PEMFCs)　with　dead-ended　anode　(DEA)　and　can　affect　cell　performance　significantly.　In　this　paper,　the　cell　performance　characteristics　in　DEA　PEMFCs　with　three　different　anode　flow　fields　under　two　operating　modes　are　studied　through　measuring　the　cell　voltages　and　local　current　densities.　The　effect　of　the　anode　exit　reservoir　is　also　studied　for　the　three　different　anode　flow　fields.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　interdigitated　flow　field　has　the　most　stable　cell　performance　under　both　constant　pressure　and　pressure　swing　supply　modes.　Parallel　and　serpentine　flow　fields　lead　to　very　non-uniform　local　current　distributions　under　constant　pressure　supply　mode　and　experience　severe　fluctuations　and　spikes　in　local　current　densities　under　pressure　swing　supply　mode.　The　results　also　show　that　anode　pressure　swing　supply　mode　can　achieve　more　stable　cell　performance　than　anode　constant　pressure　supply　mode　for　parallel　and　serpentine　anode　flow　fields.　The　anode　exit　reservoir　can　significantly　improve　cell　performance　stability　for　parallel　and　serpentine　flow　fields,　but　has　no　significant　effect　on　interdigitated　flow　fields.　Besides,　the　results　further　show　that　PEMFCs　with　DEA　can　maintain　very　stable　operation　with　anode　serpentine　flow　field　and　an　anode　exit　reservoir　under　pressure　swing　operation.　(C)　2017　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.