Abstract
Organic-inorganic composite membranes for operation above 100°C in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were prepared, characterized and cell-tested. Composite membranes were obtained by mixing organic polymers, which have a SO3H group as a proton conductor with inorganic material, SiO2H using the sol-gel process. Electron probe micro analyser (EPMA) was used to show the homogeneous and uniform distribution of SiO2. The physico-chemical properties of all membranes were investigated regarding their tensile strength, water uptake and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Due to a higher water uptake and thermal stability of composite membranes, the cell performances at high temperatures above 100°C, were improved. In addition, the SiOH group in the composite membrane was shown to play a major role in capturing water strongly and maintaining proton conductivity even at high temperature. Furthermore, the fuel cell performance of organic-inorganic composite membranes was superior to that of the Nation membrane at high current density over all ranges of temperature.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 4787-4796 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Electrochimica Acta |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 26 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 Oct 15 |
Keywords
- Cell performance
- High temperature-operation
- Organic-inorganic composite membrane
- Polymer electrolyte
- SiO
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Electrochemistry