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Pyridine‐based PBI Composite Membranes for PEMFCs
Author(s) -
Quartarone E.,
Magistris A.,
Mustarelli P.,
Grandi S.,
Carollo A.,
Zukowska G.Z.,
Garbarczyk J. E.,
Nowinski J. L.,
Gerbaldi C.,
Bodoardo S.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200800149
Subject(s) - membrane , nafion , materials science , conductivity , monomer , raman spectroscopy , chemical engineering , thermal stability , polymer , composite number , pyridine , polymer chemistry , thermal conductivity , composite material , chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , electrode , optics , engineering
Polybenzimidazole (PBI) activated with H 3 PO 4 is one of the membranes of choice to replace Nafion® in PEMFCs in order to allow their use above 100 °C. The limits of PBI in terms of acid leaching and low conductivity below 160 °C can be overcome by a proper monomer tailoring, and by the addition of new fillers. Here, we report on new pyridine‐based PBI membranes with: (i) imidazole‐silica (SiO 2 ‐Im) and (ii) mesostructured silica (SBA‐15) fillers. Both the thermal stability and the permanent conductivity are improved by adding 5 wt.‐% of filler, but SiO 2 ‐Im gives the best results. Permanent conductivity values higher than 10 –3 S cm –1 are obtained at 120 °C and 50% R.H. Vibrational spectroscopies (FT‐IR and Raman) are used to investigate the relationships among the polymer, the filler and the activating H 3 PO 4 acid.
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