Organic-inorganic composite membranes as addition of SiO2 for high temperature-operation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

You Mee Kim, Seong Ho Choi, Heung Chan Lee, Ming Zi Hong, Keon Kim, Ho In Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Citations (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4787-4796
Number of pages10
JournalElectrochimica Acta
Volume49
Issue number26
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004 Oct 15

Keywords

  • Cell performance
  • High temperature-operation
  • Organic-inorganic composite membrane
  • Polymer electrolyte
  • SiO

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Electrochemistry

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