Simple Approach of Layer-by-Layer of Proton Donor and Accepter for Effective and Efficient Proton Transfer System in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)

摘要

PEMFC is one of the environmental alternative energy . Nafion~R and other perfluorosulfonated polymers are known as the polymer for electrolyte membrane due to its high proton conductivity for 10~2 S/cm. The performance of PEMFC can be improved at the moderate operating temperature (100-150 °C) where the reaction kinetics is enhanced as well as the platinum catalyst is recovered from CO. However, at that time, the perfluorosulfonated membranes lose their water clusters resulting in the significant decrease of proton conductivity. Heterocyclic compounds such as imidazoles and the derivatives are reported for their proton conductivity based on the hydrogen bond networks and molecular mobility The point to be considered is how we can enhance the proton transfer along the polymer backbone. Here, we propose the polymer membrane containing proton donor and acceptor species so that the proton movement can be effective. At the same time, in order to make the membrane system be efficient, we propose the alignment of the proton donor polymer in alternative with proton acceptor compounds by the simple approach of layer by layer technique to develop systematically proton transferring through proton accepting-donating process.