Nafion/PTFE Composite Membranes for a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Application

Abstract

The main bottlenecks for the application of polymer electrolyte fuel cells in electric vehicles are the high cost and the inferior performance of Nafion at high temperatures above 80 °C. In this work, composite membranes made by infiltrating Nafion in various PTFE fibrous substrates were prepared, characterized, and assessed for a single fuel cell performance. Prepared by a simple dip-coating method, the composite membrane exhibited satisfactory mechanical strength and thermal stability with the incorporation of a PTFE backbone, which can suppress the swelling of the Nafion component. The durability of the composite membranes in terms of through-plane conductivity after boiling at 120 °C was comparable to that of Nafion117. Moreover, the Nafion/PTFE membrane was able to achieve higher through-plane conductivity than Nafion117 at higher temperatures of 100 °C, indicating potential application in high temperature condition.

Water Electrolysis toward Elevated Temperature: Advances, Challenges and Frontiers

“…211 Moreover, Nafion composite membranes applicable for elevated temperatures were also prepared by introducing protonic ionic liquids (PILs), such as 1,2,4triazolium methanesulfonate ([Tri][MS]), 212 and dip coating a Nafion dispersion onto a porous PTFE backbone. 213 The materials and properties of Nafion-based composite membranes for ET-PEMECs are summarized in Table 10.…”

“…By fixing water molecules and forming conductive nanochannels, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) promoted water retention, and the decoration of phosphotungstic acid (PWA)-doped PBI could effectively prevent agglomeration of CNT by generating an ionic nature . Moreover, Nafion composite membranes applicable for elevated temperatures were also prepared by introducing protonic ionic liquids (PILs), such as 1,2,4-triazolium methanesulfonate ([Tri]­[MS]), and dip coating a Nafion dispersion onto a porous PTFE backbone . The materials and properties of Nafion-based composite membranes for ET-PEMECs are summarized in Table .…”

“…Materials and performance of membranes for ET-PEMECs (including Nafion-based membranes, − ,− PA-doped PBI-based membranes ,− ,− ,,,,,− and other polymer electrolyte membranes − ,− ).…”

Advanced Functional Hybrid Proton Exchange Membranes Robust and Conductive at 120 °C

“…Over the last two decades, the scientific community has proposed many strategies to enhance PEM performances at high temperatures: developments of new sulfonated polymers, [ 4–7 ] combination of acid and base functions, [ 8–10 ] hybridization with hydrophilic inorganic particles [ 11,12 ] or metal‐organic frameworks, [ 13 ] reinforcement with PTFE, [ 14,15 ] altogether with other approaches. One of the most promising strategies to enhance the membrane's performance is to design composite membranes by the incorporation of metal oxide particles into a PFSA matrix.…”

“…The global transport sector represents around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions, [1] making it one of the main causes of global climate change. Important challenges concern optimization of performances of electrical vehicles, among which hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer a low-carbon alternative to temperatures: developments of new sulfonated polymers, [4][5][6][7] combination of acid and base functions, [8][9][10] hybridization with hydrophilic inorganic particles [11,12] or metal-organic frameworks, [13] reinforcement with PTFE, [14,15] altogether with other approaches. One of the most promising strategies to enhance the membrane's performance is to design composite membranes by the incorporation of metal oxide particles into a PFSA matrix.…”