Proton electrolyte membrane

In the proton-emitting membrane or proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) design, the membrane electrode assembly consists of the anode and cathode, which are provided with a very thin layer of catalyst, bonded to either side of the proton exchange membrane. With the help of the catalyst, the H2 at the anode splits into a proton and an electron, while Oz enters at the cathode. On the inside of the porous anode is a thin platinum catalyst layer. When H2 reaches this layer, it separates into protons (H2 ions) and electrons. One of the reasons why the cost of fuel cells is still high is because the cost of the platinum catalyst is rising. One ounce of platinum cost 361 in 1999 and increased to 1,521 in 2007. 

The core of the Ballard fuel cell consists of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is placed between two flow-field plates. The flow-field plates direct H2 to the anode and Oz (from air) to the cathode. To obtain the desired amount of electric power, individual fuel cells are combined to form fuel cell stacks. Increasing the number of cells in a stack increases the voltage, and 

Post-Oil Energy Technology After the Age of Fossil Fuels 

Flow Field Plate Gas Diffusion Electrode (Anode) Catalvst 

In high-temperature and larger-size (250 kW-3 mW) fuel cells, carbonate or solid oxide materials are used. Their operating temperatures range from 650 to 980°C (1,200-1,800°F), and their byproduct is high-pressure steam. 

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Miyake, N., Wainright, J. S. and Savinell, R. E 2001. Evaluation of a sol-gel derived Nafion/silica hybrid membrane for proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. I. Proton conductivity and water content. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 148 A898-A904. 

Due to their high electrical and thermal conductivity, materials made out of metal have been considered for fuel cells, especially for components such as current collectors, flow field bipolar plates, and diffusion layers. Only a very small amount of work has been presented on the use of metal materials as diffusion layers in PEM and DLFCs because most of the research has been focused on using metal plates as bipolar plates [24] and current collectors. The diffusion layers have to be thin and porous and have high thermal and electrical conductivity. They also have to be strong enough to be able to support the catalyst layers and the membrane. In addition, the fibers of these metal materials cannot puncture the thin proton electrolyte membrane. Thus, any possible metal materials to be considered for use as DLs must have an advantage over other conventional materials. 

See color insert following page 140.) A single cell of my reversible fuel cell (RFC) design, using the basic proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) type fuel cell. 

YA. Gallego, a. Mendes, LM. Madeira, S.P. Nunes, Proton electrolyte membrane properties and direct methanol fuel-cell performance I. Characterization of hybrid sulfonated poly-(ether ether ketone)/zirconium oxide membranes. Journal [Pg.85]

Jones D J and Rozibre J (2009), Ambient temperatnre proton electrolyte membrane fuel cells current trends in Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources, Vol. 2 (C. D. J. Garche, P. Moseley, B. Scrosati, Z. Ogumi, D. Rand, ed.), Amsterdam, Elsevier. 

Silva VS, Ruffmann B, Silva H, Gallego YA, Mendes A, Madeira LM, Nunes SP (2005) Proton electrolyte membrane properties and direct methanol fuel cell performance. J Power Sources 140 34-40... 

Li, S., Liu, M., Synthesis and conductivity of proton-electrolyte membranes based on hybrid inorganic-organic copolymers, Electrochim. Acta, 2003, 48,4271-4276. 

Serincan M F and Yeilyurt S (2005) An Analysis of a Proton Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) at Start-ups and Failures, 3rd European PEFC Forum, Lucerne, File No. P203. 

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