New polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells can operate at up to 250 °C

Hydrogen gasoline cells, gadgets that may convert the chemical vitality saved in hydrogen into electrical vitality through an electrochemical response, are promising options for electrifying giant autos. Gas cells based mostly on low-temperature (below 100 °C) proton change membranes have been discovered to be significantly advantageous for transportation, as they produce restricted noise, have excessive energy densities and might energy autos for lengthy distances with a single cost of hydrogen.

Regardless of their promise, these low-temperature gasoline cells solely function properly with extremely pure hydrogen, in addition to subtle warmth and water administration programs, which might restrict their real-world use. Elevating the working temperature of gasoline cells to 120–150 °C might assist scale back these necessities, making them extra tolerant to hydrogen impurities whereas additionally simplifying their inner cooling and water administration.

Researchers on the Korea Institute of Science and Expertise not too long ago designed a brand new polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for gasoline cells that may function at temperatures above 200 °C and as much as 250 °C. Their proposed PEM, offered in a paper published in Nature Powerrelies on a novel sort of proton service, which may be deployed as a self-assembled community to advertise proton conduction.

“Operating PEM fuel cells at high temperatures can simplify water management and allow integration with high-purity fuel processing units,” Seungju Lee, Jong Geun Seong and their colleagues wrote of their paper. “However, existing polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based PEM fuel cells face challenges due to the instability of proton transport above 160 °C. We report a PEM composed of para-PBI (p-PBI) and cerium hydrogen phosphate (CeHP) that can be used in a fuel cell at up to 250 °C.”

The researchers confirmed that at temperatures above 200 °C, the first proton conduction of their PEM modified in a method that allowed gasoline cells to function at temperatures of 250 °C. In preliminary assessments, a gasoline cell based mostly on this membrane was discovered to achieve a outstanding electrochemical efficiency, and a boosted tolerance to CO and larger period of operation in comparison with different present gasoline cells working at these excessive temperatures.

“During fabrication, echinoid-shaped CeHP particles form a well-dispersed and interconnected self-assembled network within the PBI matrix (SAN–CeHP–PBI), allowing them to outperform p-PBI and conventional CeHP–PBI PEMs in terms of proton transport above 200 °C,” Lee, Seong and their colleagues wrote.

“We report a SAN–CeHP–PBI-based fuel cell that reaches a maximum power density of 2.35 W cm⁻² (at 250 °C in dry H₂/O₂) with negligible degradation over 500 h during thermal cycling (at 160–240 °C, H₂/air). SAN–CeHP–PBI also demonstrates excellent CO tolerance, showing promise for integration with liquid hydrogen carrier systems.”

This current examine by Lee, Music and his colleagues might quickly open new prospects for the event of higher performing gasoline cells for transportation-related functions. Whereas the staff’s new PEM has already achieved promising outcomes, its commercialization will solely be potential after a sequence of technical points are overcome. Most notably, scientists and engineers will first should determine secure catalysts and binders that may tolerate extended publicity to temperatures above 250 °C.

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