Multifunctional composite membrane for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract

Novel proton exchange membranes (PEMs) based on (1) a porous polyimide matrix with high porosity, pore sizes on sub-micrometer scale and high mechanical strength and (2) a filling electrolyte having high proton conductivity that fills the pores of the substrate were prepared. In addition to the filling polymer, the host porous matrix affects the success of pore-filling as well as the performance of the composite membrane. Therefore, the selection and synthesis of the material for the host matrix is one of the main objectives in this study. Due to excellent properties of polyimide material compared to others, including high mechanical strength and no swelling following pore-filling, it is selected for fabricating the porous substrate to construct the composite membrane.