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Chemically Crosslinked Sulfonated Polyphenylsulfone (CSPPSU) Membranes for PEM Fuel Cells
Je-Deok Kim1, Akihiro Ohira2, Hidenobu Nakao3
1Hydrogen Production Materials Group, Center for Green Research on Energy and Environmental Materials, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
Membranes
|February 23, 2020
Summary
A novel crosslinked sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (CSPPSU) membrane demonstrates excellent stability and performance for fuel cells. This polymer electrolyte membrane shows promise for long-term applications, outperforming current standards.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Developing high-performance polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology.
- Existing membranes like Nafion face challenges in long-term durability and cost-effectiveness.
- Sulfonated polymers offer potential alternatives due to tunable properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a high-performance, large-area crosslinked sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (CSPPSU) membrane.
- To develop an effective activation process for the CSPPSU membrane.
- To evaluate the fuel cell performance and long-term stability of the developed CSPPSU membrane.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (SPPSU) from polyphenylsulfone (PPSU).
- Preparation of large-area CSPPSU membranes and development of an alkaline/acidic activation process to remove SO2 byproduct.
- Fuel cell testing (I-V curves, H2 crossover) and long-term stability evaluation under constant current.
Main Results:
- The CSPPSU membrane exhibited high thermal, mechanical, and chemical stabilities after activation.
- Fuel cell performance comparable to Nafion was achieved in I-V studies.
- Significantly improved durability compared to Nafion212 was observed in H2 gas crossover tests.
- A record stability of 4000 hours was achieved in long-term constant current tests.
Conclusions:
- The developed activation method is effective in producing stable CSPPSU membranes.
- CSPPSU membranes show excellent performance and durability, making them a promising alternative to conventional PEMs.
- This research highlights the potential of CSPPSU as a next-generation polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells.
