Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells SPEFC

Recently, Dahr [1], Stonehart [2] and Watanabe [3] have made an attempt to reduce the humidification constraints in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells (SPEFCs) by using modified perfluorosulfonic membranes. A recast Nafion film sandwiched between the two electrodes was first proposed by Dahr [1] for the realization of an internally humidified SPEFC. Stonehart [2] suggested the inclusion of small amounts of silica powder into the recast film in order to retain the electrochemically produeed water inside the membrane. Watanabe et al [3] have tried to exploit the H2/O2 crossover through the membrane to produce a chemical recombination to water on small Pt clusters inside the membrane. All of these membranes were operated with H2/O2 at 80°C and allowed the development of systems without assisted humidification or with near ambient humidification. 

Appleby, A.J. and Yeager, E.B. (1986) Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells (SPEFCs). Energy, 11, 137-152. 

SPEFC solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell (same as PEMFC)... 

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells, also sometimes called SPEFC (solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells) or PEMFC (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell) use a proton exchange membrane as the electrolyte. PEEC are low-temperature fuel cells, generally operating between 40 and 90 °C and therefore need noble metal electrocatalysts (platinum or platinum alloys on anode and cathode). Characteristics of PEEC are the high power density and fast dynamics. A prominent application area is therefore the power train of automobiles, where quick start-up is required. 

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