Dynamic Mechanical Fatigue Behavior of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Using a Gas Pressure-Loaded Blister

Abstract

This study reports on an innovative press-loaded blister hybrid system equipped with gas-chromatography (PBS-GC) that is designed to evaluate the mechanical fatigue of two representative types of commercial Nafion membranes under relevant PEMFC operating conditions (e.g., simultaneously controlling temperature and humidity). The influences of various applied pressures (50 kPa, 100 kPa, etc.) and blistering gas types (hydrogen, oxygen, etc.) on the mechanical resistance loss are systematically investigated. The results evidently indicate that hydrogen gas is a more effective blistering gas for inducing dynamic mechanical losses of PEM. The changes in proton conductivity are also measured before and after hydrogen gas pressure-loaded blistering. After performing the mechanical aging test, a decrease in proton conductivity was confirmed, which was also interpreted using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. Finally, an accelerated dynamic mechanical aging test is performed using the homemade PBS-GC system, where the hydrogen permeability rate increases significantly when the membrane is pressure-loaded blistering for 10 min, suggesting notable mechanical fatigue of the PEM. In summary, this PBS-GC system developed in-house clearly demonstrates its capability of screening and characterizing various membrane candidates in a relatively short period of time (<1.5 h at 50 kPa versus 200 h).

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“…PEMs are thin films of solid polymer electrolytes made of polymer networks that include functional groups with ions covalently bound to them, allowing them to exchange protons. 3,4 Nafion, a perfluorinated polymer membrane, is used as a prime PEM material because of its good chemical resistance (due to a C−F bond) and its proton conductivity. However, it still cannot meet all of the parameters needed for PEMFC due to its high cost, difficulty in the synthesis procedure, limited proton conductivity, and stability under high operating temperatures.…”

“…Protons are transported in the PEMFC from the anode to the cathode using a proton-exchange or polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), which prevents fuel from passing through the membranes. PEMs are thin films of solid polymer electrolytes made of polymer networks that include functional groups with ions covalently bound to them, allowing them to exchange protons. , Nafion, a perfluorinated polymer membrane, is used as a prime PEM material because of its good chemical resistance (due to a C–F bond) and its proton conductivity. However, it still cannot meet all of the parameters needed for PEMFC due to its high cost, difficulty in the synthesis procedure, limited proton conductivity, and stability under high operating temperatures. , Developing PEMs with electrochemical durability, chemical and thermal stability, and high proton conductivity is a significant area of research.…”

Recent Developments on Bioinspired Cellulose Containing Polymer Nanocomposite Cation and Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells (PEMFC and AFC)

“…The search for alternative energy has recently been a concern worldwide due to fossil fuel diminution and environmental complications [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Over the past few decades, fossil fuels have been significantly extracted from the earth’s crust to accomplish the energy needs of humans and others.…”