Title

Investigation of membrane property and fuel cell behavior with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) electrolyte: Temperature and relative humidity effects

Authors

Authors

R. C. Jiang; H. R. Kunz;J. M. Fenton

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Power Sources

Keywords

sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK); water vapor uptake; proton; conductivity; fuel cell performance; temperature; relative humidity; PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES; POLYMER ELECTROLYTE; PERMEATION PROPERTIES; BLEND MEMBRANES; WATER-UPTAKE; POLYETHERKETONE; POLYBENZIMIDAZOLE; HYDROGEN; Electrochemistry; Energy & Fuels

Abstract

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)s (SPEEKs) with various sulfonation degrees were prepared and characterized for the intention of fuel cell applications. Two distinct water vapor activity regions characterized by different water vapor uptake behaviors were observed. Proton conductivity of SPEEK membranes increases with increasing sulfonation degrees and temperatures. SPEEK membranes with sulfonation degrees of 5 1 and 60% show proton conductivity higher than 0.01 S cm(-1) at temperatures higher than 40 degrees C with 100% relative humidity (RH). Relative humidity has a stronger effect on the proton conductivity of SPEEK membranes than that of Nafion (R) membranes. Fuel cell performance with SPEEK membranes was studied at various temperatures and relative humidities. Good fuel cell performance was obtained with a SPEEK-51 membrane at 80 degrees C, 100% relative humidity and ambient pressure. Both temperature and relative humidity have important influence to the cell resistances and performances. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) as well as hydrogen crossover profiles show distinct features under different relative humidity conditions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Journal of Power Sources

Volume

150

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

120

Last Page

128

WOS Identifier

WOS:000232432300014

ISSN

0378-7753

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