Anion-exchange membrane
fuel cells (AEMFCs) are promising technologies
that allow the use of nonprecious metals as catalysts because the
oxidation reduction reaction at the cathode occurs readily at the
high pH of AEMFCs. However, the insufficient chemical stability of
the anion-conductive materials in AEMFCs currently limits their development.
We studied the chemical stability of the electrolyte in the catalyst
layer of AEMFCs containing cationic dimethyl polybenzimidazole (mPBI).
Although degradation was observed in an mPBI membrane under alkaline
conditions, mPBI coated on a carbon support showed excellent alkaline
stability. Because no glass transition temperature was observed for
mPBI after coating on the support, the increase of chemical stability
was probably associated with the decrease of polymer flexibility.
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