< Back to previous page

Project

Nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membranes based on proton-conducting metal organic frameworks and polymerized protic ionic liquids for fuel cell applications

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are finding applications in vehicles, power plants and portable electronics. Current PEMFCs using state-of-the-art perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membranes (e.g. NafionĀ®) require humidification of the inlet gases, leading to higher system complexity and cost. In addition, fuel crossover decreases the fuel cell efficiencies. Therefore, new membranes with sufficiently high proton conductivity and low fuel crossover at non-humidified conditions are urgently needed. In this project we intend to develop novel nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) based on proton-conducting metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and polymerized protic ionic liquids (PILs). MOFs are crystalline materials with tunable porosity and consist of metal ions and organic linkers. Polymerized PILs are anhydrous proton conductors with high proton conductivity and good thermal and chemical stability. Polymerizable PILs (i.e. PIL monomers) will be designed, synthesized and screened. Proton-conducting MOFs will be prepared by incorporation of protic organic ionic plastic crystals (POIPCs), a type of novel all-solid-state proton conductors recently discovered by the applicant and his hosting groups, as guest molecules in the MOF channels. Nanocomposite PEMs will then be fabricated from polymerizable PILs and proton-conducting MOFs via polymerization. Finally, the PEMs will be characterized for their physicochemical properties and fuel cell performances.

Date:1 Jan 2016 →  31 Dec 2018
Keywords:vloeistoffen, ionische, protische, gepolymeriseerde, metaalorganische netwerken, protongeleidende, elektrolytmembranen, polymeer, Nanocomposiet, brandstofcellen
Disciplines:Analytical chemistry, Macromolecular and materials chemistry