Date : April, 19th, 2007      Time : Thursday, 4-5pm      Place : New Science Building 127

Title : NOVEL POLYSILSESQUIOXANE HYBRID MEMBRANES FOR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL (PEMFC) APPLICATIONS

Speaker : Dr. John P. Ferraris , Professor and Head of Chemistry, Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology , School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Texas at Dallas

Affiliation : 

Abstract :

Commercialization of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology in portable and transportation applications has been delayed due to issues of high costs and durability of the proton exchange membranes (PEMs).  Intense interest has recently surfaced for high temperature PEMFCs (> 130 o C) due to several advantages, including improved CO tolerance of the Pt electrode, permitting the use of reformed fuels, reduction of Pt loading in electrodes, 1 higher energy efficiency and better heat/water management. 2

Sulfonated fluoropolymers for PEM applications such as Dupont's Nafion ® membrane are inadequate for high temperature applications.  These membranes rely on the presence of water to solvate and transport protons, which result in operation over a limited temperature range and water management problems.  These membranes also have low glass transition temperatures (T g ) that limit their application to temperatures below 100 o C, exhibit a large amount of fuel crossover, lower proton conductivity at temperatures greater than 100 o C, significant dimensional changes with water content, and high cost. 3-5

Inorganic-organic hybrid materials represent an interesting alternative for polymeric membranes for PEMs.  These materials with nano-sized phases and interfaces combine enhanced thermal/mechanical stability from the inorganic component, and proton conductivity properties of the organic component.  These hybrid materials can be synthesized through easy sol-gel polymerizations and provide controllable material properties in flexible polymeric networks. 6

The UTD Fuel Cell Group is exploring new proton-conducting membranes based on hybrid inorganic-organic polymers synthesized through a sol-gel route that can have low cost and benign environmental impact. 7,8   These tough and flexible membranes exhibit  hydrolytic stability over long periods of time and high proton conductivities (10 -2 S/cm) at low relative humidity conditions over a wide range of temperatures.

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