Self-humidifying proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) that do not require external humidification equipment are subject of intense research due to the promise of simpler system design and operation and greater energy efficiency. We have reported new self-humidifying proton exchange membrane from confinement of subnanoliter volumes of PFSA membrane within zeolite-coated pores fabricated on stainless steel. MFI zeolite affords an order of magnitude improvement in fuel cell power density at high temperature operation (i.e., 100oC). This work explores other zeolite materials that have larger pores, greater hydrophilicity, higher water sorption capacity and stronger acidity with the aim of achieving further performance enhancement. Indeed, FAU zeolites provide a further performance increase of 100% compared to MFI zeolites.

Effects of zeolite-type in the performance of self-humidifying confined PFSA-zeolite composite membrane in fuel cell

245th National Meeting (2013)

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