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Poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene] was sulfonated in a solution with SO 3 and solution-cast into 100 -200-m-thick membranes from N,N-dimethylacetamide. The degree of polymer sulfonation was easily controlled and water-insoluble membranes were fabricated with an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) as high as 2.1 mmol/g. For water-insoluble polymers, there was no evidence of polyphosphazene degradation during sulfonation. The glass transition temperature varied from Ϫ28°C for the base polymer to Ϫ10°C for a sulfonated polymer with an IEC of 2.1 mmol/g. The equilibrium water swelling of membranes at 25°C increased from near zero for a 0.04-mmol/g IEC membrane to 900 % when the IEC was 2.1 mmol/g. When the IEC was Ͻ 1.0 mmol/g, SO 3 attacked the methylphenoxy side chains at the para position, whereas sulfonation occurred at all available aromatic carbons for higher ion-exchange capacities. Differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarized microscopy showed that the base polymer, poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene], was semicrystalline. For sulfonated polymers with a measurable IEC, the 3-dimensional crystal structure vanished but a 2-dimensional ordered phase was retained.

The past decade has seen tremendous advances in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology. However, there remain many challenges to bring commercially viable stationary PEMFC products to the market. This review, from a manufacturer's perspective, focuses on system reliability and materials compatibility and their strong impact on stack life and overall system durability. Statistical analysis is based on fi eld data from more than 600 stationary PEMFC systems for both continuous and back-up power applications. Sealing materials and coolants are used to illustrate the approaches taken to evaluate materials compatibility studies.

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