The separator membrane assembly with a grid as the separator performed the best. Efficient pH balance by diffusion of the buffering species is essential. Oxygen crossover was mitigated by the biofilm on the cathode and the 3D bioanode. Biofouling did not impact the resistance; fouling deteriorated the cathode kinetics. All bioanodes showed stringent selection of Proteiniphilum acetatigenes.

This study proposes a novel sepiolite-based Aquivion electrolyte membrane which could be operated at low relative humidity. In the study, it was discovered that the functionalization of sepiolite with fluorinated groups (i.e.,-C 7 F 15), named SEP-F, helps its dispersion in the composite membrane, compared with the use of natural sepiolite. The Aquivion/SEP-F composite membrane showed increased water uptake, thermo-mechanical and chemical stability as well as proton conductivity and decreased swelling compared with commercially available Nafion HP and pristine Aquivion. Their behavior in single cell MEA testing conditions was also assessed. Aquivion/SEP-F composite membrane can be an interesting alternative for low relative humidity operation of PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell).

In this study, the resistance to corrosion of niobium-doped tin dioxide (Nb-doped SnO2, NTO) and antimony-doped tin oxide (Sb-doped SnO2, ATO) supports has been probed for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) application. To achieve this goal, ATO or NTO supports with loose-tube (fiber-in-tube) morphology were synthesized using electrospinning and decorated with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles. These cathode catalysts were submitted to two different electrochemical tests, an accelerated stress test following the EU Harmonised Test Protocols for PEMFC in a single cell configuration and an 850 h test in real air-breathing PEMFC systems. In both cases, the dissolution of the doping element was measured either by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) performed on the exhaust water or by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (X-EDS) analysis on ultramicrotomed membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and correlated to the performance losses upon ageing. It appears that the NTO-based support leads to lower performances than the ATO-based one, mainly owing to the low electronic conductivity of NTO. However, in the case of ATO, dissolution of the Sb doping element is non-negligible and represents a major issue from a stability point-of-view.

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