To improve the performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells which use hydrogen and oxygen as fuels, the application of small proton-conducting polymer to extend the three-phase boundary into the primary pores of catalyst-loaded carbon black agglomerates is of interest. An alternative and simple crosslinking method is proposed in place of the complicated polymer-grafting methods. Platinum-loaded carbon black is entrapped in epichlorohydrin-crosslinked chitosan of low molecular weight. Morphology and pore analyses of carbon black prior and post treatment are assessed, as well as performances of fuel cells fabricated with the treated and the untreated carbon black at 40 degrees C and 100% humidity. Results indicate the existence of chitosan chains in the primary pores of the carbon black agglomerates, corresponding to a decline in the activation overvoltage and resulting in significantly better cell performance. An increase in chitosan amount, however, does not necessarily enhance the cell performance because effects of ohmic and concentration losses may become more dominant than that of the raised exchange current density of the cell. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.