Anion exchange membrane (AEM) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) provide a key function for fuel cell (FC) operation. One of the key enablers for both AEMFC and PEMFC is mechanically robust, stable, and highly conductive membrane. Especially, the chemical and mechanical stability of the membrane at elevated temperature of 80-120 °C remains a challenge for long-term operation for AEMFC and PEMFC. Here, we have developed mechanically robust hydrocarbon-based polyolefin membranes for AEMFC and PEMFC. One of the developed membranes includes a norbornene-based polymer. Membranes made from the functionalized polynorbornene showed high mechanical properties, high thermal stability (Tg&gt;300°C) and can be easily cast to have a thickness of &lt;20 um. These thin membranes exhibit hydroxide conductivity of 110 mS/cm at 80 °C in water, which allows for a low area specific resistance (ASR) of &lt;0.03 Ωcm2. The membranes also showed high power density when measured in a fuel cell, e.g., 1,300 mA/cm2 at 0.65 V. The chemical stability of the membranes was also tested by soaking the membranes in highly basic solution, and it exhibited no decrease in performance after 1000 hours. Similarly, robust hydrocarbon-based polyolefin membranes for PEMFC were developed. This presentation will update our efforts in both polyolefin-based AEM and PEM toward stable performance at elevated temperature with low ASR.

Mechanically robust polyolefin-based membranes for AEMFC and PEMFC

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ACS Fall 2022

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