Proton-Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells

The PEM, which serves as both the electrolyte and reactant gas separator, represents the core component of the PEMFC. When serving as the electrolyte, the PEM transfers hydrogen ions from the anode to the cathode, whereas when serving as the reactant gas separator it prevents the fuel and the oxidizer from mixing. Consequently, the key requirements for the PEM will include  

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Xing, P., Robertson, G. R, Guiver, M. D., Mikhailenko, S. D. and Kaliaguine, S. 2004. Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing the hexafluoroisopro-pylidene diphenyl moiety prepared by direct copolymerization, as proton exchange membranes for fuel cell application. Macromolecules 37 7960-7967. 

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. 

This review will outline the materials requirements for advanced alternative proton exchange membranes for fuel cells, assess recent progress in this area, and provide directions for the development of next-generation materials. The focus will be on the synthesis of polymeric materials that have attached ion conducting groups. State-of-the-art Nation and its commercially available perfluorosulfonic acid relatives will initially be discussed. Other chain-growth co-... 

Benzimidazole-containing sulfonated polyimides, (IV), prepared by Bmnelle [4] were effective as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. 

Gil, M., Ji, X., Li, X., Na, H., Hampsay, J., Lu, Y. (2004). Direct synthesis of sulfonated aromatic poly(ether ether ketone) proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications. /. Membrane Sci. 234, 75-81. 

Thampan, T. Malhotra, S. Tang, H. Datta, R. Modeling of conductive transport in proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2000, 147 (9), 3242-3250. 

X. Li, C. Zhao, H. Lu, Z. Wang, and H. Na. Direct synthesis of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s (SPEEKKs) proton exchange membranes for fuel cell application. Polymer, 46(15) 5820-5827, July 2005. 

T. Thampan, S. Malhotra, FI. Tang, and R. Datta, Modeling of Conductive Transport in Proton-Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 147, 3242 (2000). 

The required properties of solid polymer electrolyte membranes may be divided into interfacial and bulk properties [9]. As described above, the interfacial characteristics of these membrane materials are important for the optimum formation of the three-phase boundary. Hence, flow properties, gas solubility, wetting of carbon supported catalyst surfaces by the polymer, etc. are of paramount importance. The bulk properties concern proton conductivity, gas separation, and mechanical properties. This whole ensemble of properties has to be considered and balanced in the development of novel proton-exchange membranes for fuel cell application. 

Lin YF, Yen CY, Ma CCM, Liao SH, Hung CH, Hsiao YH (2007) Preparation and properties of high performance nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell. J Power Sources 165 692-700... 

Luo H, Vaivars G, Mathe M (2009) Cross-linked PEEK-WC proton exchange membrane for fuel cell. Int J Hydrogen Energ 34 8616-8621... 

Nasef, M.M., Saidi, H. and Dahlan, K.Z.M. 2009. Single-step radiation induced grafting for preparation of proton exchange membranes for fuel cell. 339 115-119. 

Wu, X., He, G., Gu, S., Hu, Z., Yao, P. Novel interpenetrating polymer network sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone)/polyaciylic acid proton exchange membranes for fuel cell. J. Membr. Scl. 295, 80-87 (2007)... 

L. Wu, Z. Zhang, J. Ran, D. Zhou, C. Li, T. Xu, Advances in proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells an overview on proton conductive channels (PCCs), Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15 (14) (2013) 4870-4887. 

S.J. Peighambardoust, S. Rowshanzamir, M. Amjadi, Review of the proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35 (17)(2010) 9349-9384. 

Over the past decade, proton exchange membranes for fuel cells (PEMFCs) have undergone significant development. It has been demonstrated that the overall system size can be reduced and carbon monoxide tolerance can be increased by operating the fuel cell stack at much higher temperatures than 1(X) °C and even as high as 180 °C. However, the loss of water from a Nafion-type membrane at higher temperatures (>100 °C) results in a rapid loss of conductivity [92,93]. Thus, the development of a suitable alternate water-based proton... 

P. Xing, G.P. Robertson, M.D. Guiver, S.D. Mikhalenko, S. Kaliaguine, Sulfonated Poly(aryl ether ketone)s Containing the Hexafluoroisopropylidene Diphenyl Moiety prepared by Direct Copolymerization, as Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Application, Mocrowo/., 37 (2004) 7960-7967... 

The BPSH block copolymer membranes performed much better as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells than the random copolymers with similar lEC, especially in terms of proton conductivity at low humidity (on the order of mS/cm at 80 °C and 30 % RH, lEC =1.5 meq/g). 

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