Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

PEM Proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell (Polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell) Proton- conducting polymer membrane (e.g., Nafion ) H+ (proton) 50-80 mW (Laptop) 50 kW (Ballard) modular up to 200 kW 25-=45% Immediate Road vehicles, stationary electricity generation, heat and electricity co-generation, submarines, space travel... 

PAFC PEMFC PFC PGM PHEV PISI PM POX ppm PPP Phosphoric-acid fuel cell Proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell Polymer-electrolyte membrane Perfluorocarbons Platinum-group metals Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle Port-injection spark ignition Particulate matter Partial oxidation Parts per million Purchasing power parity... 

Note PAFC phosphoric acid fuel cell PEMFC proton exchange membrane fuel cell/polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell MBFC microbiological fuel cell DMFC direct methanol conversion fuel cell AFC alkaline fuel cell MCFC molten carbonate fuel cell SOFC solid oxide fuel cell ZAFC zinc air fuel cell. 

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell - polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)... 

Keywords Polymer electrolyte fuel cell - Proton exchange membrane - Radiation grafting... 

Micro fuel cells Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells Proton exchange membrane fuel cells pPEMFC... 

Typically, micro fuel cells use methanol as fuel alfhough hydrogen-fed micro fuel cells have also been developed. The choice of the type of fuel cell to use in portable devices may be limited to low-temperature fuel cells such as PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell/polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell) and DMFC. However, micro reformed methanol fuel cells and miniature SOFCs have also been developed. 

Recent developments in AAEMs have opened up the possibiUty of an alkaline analog of the acidic solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. This could utilize the benefits of the alkaline cathode kinetics and at the same time eradicate the disadvantages of using an aqueous electrolyte. As the AAEM is also a polymer electrolyte membrane (sometimes abbreviated as PEM), some clarity in abbreviations is required. In this chapter, PEM refers only to the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (acidic), AAEM refers to the anion exchange membrane H2/O2 fuel cells, and AFC exclusively refers to the aqueous electrolyte alkaline H2/O2 fuel cells. Anion exchange membranes are also employed in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells, discussion of which will refer to them as ADMFC/ADEFC (methanol/ ethanol). 

Fluorinated polymers, especially polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and perfluorinated alkyl vinyl ethers (PFAVE) as well as other fluorine-containing polymers are well known as materials with unique inertness. However, fluorinated polymers with functional groups are of much more interest because they combine the merits of pefluorinated materials and functional polymers (the terms functional monomer/ polymer will be used in this chapter to mean monomer/polymer containing functional groups, respectively). Such materials can be used, e.g., as ion exchange membranes for chlorine-alkali and fuel cells, gas separation membranes, solid polymeric superacid catalysts and polymeric reagents for various organic reactions, and chemical sensors. Of course, fully fluorinated materials are exceptionally inert, but at the same time are the most complicated to produce. 

Ghassemi, H., McGrath, J. E. and Zawodzinski, T. A. 2006. Multiblock sulfonat-ed-fluorinated polyjarylene etherjs for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Polymer 47 4132-4139. 

Swier, S., Ramani, V., Fenton, J. M., Kunz, H. R., Shaw, M. T. and Weiss, R. A. 2005. Polymer blends based on sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) and poly(ether sulfone) as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Journal of Membrane Science 256 122-133. 

Xing, D. and Kerres, J. 2006. Improved performance of sulfonated polyarylene ethers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Polymers for Advanced Technologies 17 591-597. 

The first key component of a membrane fuel cell is the membrane electrolyte. Its central role lies in the separation of the two electrodes and the transport of ionic species (e.g. hydroxyl ion, OH , in an AEM), between them. In general, quaternary ammonium groups are used as anion-exchange groups in these materials. However, due to their low stability in highly alkaline media [43,44], only a few membranes have been evaluated for use as solid polymer electrolytes in alkaline fuel cells. 

Hydrogen-powered cars are based on fuel cells that store hydrogen, or H2 gas, inside a material called a polymer exchange membrane. The fuel cell contains two electrodes an anode (negative side) and a cathode (positive side). At the anode, the H2 molecules are split into protons and electrons. The protons pass through a polymer exchange membrane, while the electrons are unable to pass through this membrane and thus have to flow in a different direction. This creates a current of electricity by which the car is powered. 

The most important components in a fuel cell are the Membrane Electrolyte Assembly (MEA) and the bipolar plates. The MEA usually consists of an electrolyte membrane, which is coated with catalytically active platinum-electrodes and a gas diffusion layer of hydrophobic graphite. As the electrolyte membrane cation exchange polymers are used. A crucial break-through was reached here by the employment of fluoridated polymers. The market leader here is Nation developed by the company Dupont. 

H. Ghassemi, J.E. McGrath, T.A. Zawodzinski, Jr., Multiblock sulfonated-fluorinated poly(arylene ether)s for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Polymer 2006, 47(11), 4132-M139. 

Sudrez-Alcdntara K, Solorza-Feria O (2009) Comparative study of oxygen reduction on RUxMySez (M = Cr, Mo, W) electrocatalysts for polymer exchange membrane fuel cell. J Power Sources 192 165-169... 

Wei Z, He S, Liu X, Qiao J, Lin J, Zhang L (2013) A novel environment-friendly route to prepare proton exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells. Polymer 54 1243-1250... 

In this chapter, extracts of results of standardized evaluation protocols of FCTES for the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) single cells [polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMECs) or proton exchange membrane... 

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Polymer-based electrochemical device that converts various fuels and air into water, heat, and electric energy at low operating temperatures (70 to 140 degrees Celsius). 

Lee H-S, Roy A, Lane O, Drum S, McGrath JE (2008) Hydrophilic-hydrophobic multiblock copolymers based on poly(arylene ether sulfone) via low-temperature coupling reactions for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Polymer 49 715-723... 

Higashihara T, Matsumoto K, Ueda M (2009) Sulfonated aromatic hydrocarbon polymers as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Polymer 50 5341-5357... 

Herring AM (2006) Inorganic polymer composite membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Polym Rev 46 245-296... 

PEM stands for polymer electrolyte membrane or proton exchange membrane. Sometimes, they are also called polymer membrane fuel cells, or just membrane fuel cells. In the early days (1960s) they were known as solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) fuel cells. This technology has drawn the most attention because of its simplicity, viability, quick startup, and the fact that it has been demonstrated in almost a conceivable application [1],... 

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