New polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells

Summary, in English

Durable polymers functionalized with acidic or basic groups are currently developed for proton- or anion-exchange membrane (PEM or AEM) fuel cells, respectively. The properties of perfluorosulfinic acid PEMs restrict the conditions under which these fuel cells can be operated because of limitations conductivity and stability. We are presently pursuing different approaches to alternative membranes where sulfonic acid groups are concentrated to selected aromatic segments in the polymeric structure to induce a higher level of organization of the conducting phase domains in the PEM. This includes for example the preparation of various highly stable hydrophilic-hydrophobic multiblock copolymers with blocks having very high acid contents. This leads to excellent performance and high proton conductivity at low relative humidity. AEM fuel cells hold the promise of platinum free catalysis, but present critical challenges in terms of membrane conductivity and stability. Here, we are preparing and studying various aromatic AEMs which contain very high local concentrations of ammonium moieties for high anionic conductivity and enhanced durability. Macromolecular design principles, synthetic procedures and important structure-property relationships of these new materials will be discussed.

• Author: Annika Weiber; Hai-Son Dang; Shogo Takamuku; Patric Jannasch
• Department/s: Centre for Analysis and Synthesis
• Publishing year: 2014
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Proceedings of CIMTEC 2014
• Document type: Conference paper
• Publisher: Trans Tech Publications
• Topic: Chemical Sciences
• Conference name: 6th Forum on New Materials
• Conference date: 2014-06-15 - 2014-06-19
• Conference place: Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, Italy
• Status: Published