Electrolyte membranes for intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Highlights

• The developments of electrolyte membranes for intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (ITPEMFCs)are overviewed in this work.

• Polymers and inorganics conductors are both used as IT PEM, but the structures should be modified to fit the thermal and conduction requirements.

• The proton transport mechanism of intermediate temperature PEMare normally followed the Grothuss mechanism.

Abstract

An overview of intermediate temperature (100–300 °C) proton conducting membrane electrolyte materials for fuel cells is presented in this review. The fuel cells operated in intermediate temperature range could enhance the electrochemical kinetics, simplify water management, and improve impurities resistance. Polyfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane represented by Nafion, and non-fluorinated arylene polymer membranes represented by polybenzimidazole are the two most widely polymer electrolyte membranes for intermediate temperature membrane. The structure regulation and fillers addition are two effective ways to maintain the conductivity and mechanical properties of membranes at intermediate temperature. Moreover, heteropolyacids, metal pyrophosphates and inorganic membranes also have attracted widespread attention when they operate at intermediate temperature.