Electrospun Composite Proton-Exchange and Anion-Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells

Zhihao Shang, Ryszard Wycisk and Peter Pintauro
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Zhihao Shang: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
Ryszard Wycisk: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
Peter Pintauro: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-21

Abstract: A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and oxidant into electricity. Cation-exchange and anion-exchange membranes play an important role in hydrogen fed proton-exchange membrane (PEM) and anion-exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells, respectively. Over the past 10 years, there has been growing interest in using nanofiber electrospinning to fabricate fuel cell PEMs and AEMs with improved properties, e.g., a high ion conductivity with low in-plane water swelling and good mechanical strength under wet and dry conditions. Electrospinning is used to create either reinforcing scaffolds that can be pore-filled with an ionomer or precursor mats of interwoven ionomer and reinforcing polymers, which after suitable processing (densification) form a functional membrane. In this review paper, methods of nanofiber composite PEMs and AEMs fabrication are reviewed and the properties of these membranes are discussed and contrasted with the properties of fuel cell membranes prepared using conventional methods. The information and discussions contained herein are intended to provide inspiration for the design of high-performance next-generation fuel cell ion-exchange membranes.

Keywords: fuel cell; electrospinning; nanofiber; proton-exchange membrane; anion-exchange membrane (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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