No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The preparation and characterization of different types of proton‐conducting polymer blend membranes are presented in this paper. The investigations are focused on the determination of the thermal stability of the membranes, because thermal stability is one of the important parameters for the application of the membranes in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. In addition to the thermal stability, chemical stability, proton conductivity and mechanical strength are required. The characterization of the membranes was performed by thermogravimetry (TGA), a combined TGA and FTIR analysis where infrared spectroscopy is used for the determination of decomposition products, and experiments on the dependence of water uptake (swelling) of the membranes on temperature. Ionically cross‐linked membranes have been investigated. The TGA‐FTIR coupling experiments showed clearly, that the decomposition of the membranes starts at ≈ 230 °C, and that in some cases the principal membrane component which is sulfonated polyaryletherketone splits off SO2 at slightly lower temperature in the membrane than in the pure substance. Most of the other polymeric components of the blend membranes were slightly more stable in the membrane than in the pure form. The ionically cross‐linked membranes were tested in direct methanol fuel cells as well as in a H2/air fuel cell and exhibit a performance which compares favorably with standard membranes.

No abstract