Evaluation of new ion exchange membranes for direct borohydride fuel cells

✍ Scribed by H. Cheng; K. Scott; K.V. Lovell; J.A. Horsfall; S.C. Waring

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 648 KB
• Volume: 288
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0376-7388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2006.11.014

✦ Synopsis

Several radiation grafted ion exchange membranes were prepared and evaluated in half-cells and direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFC) using voltammetric and steady-state polarisation techniques. The peak power density of 112 mW cm -2 was achieved in a DBFC with an ETFE-g-PSSA membrane using a solution of 1.32 M sodium borohydride and 2.5 M sodium hydroxide, 1 bar oxygen at 85 • C. The chemical and mechanical stabilities of the membranes were tested under various conditions. The membrane performance was compared to that obtained with the benchmark Nafion ® 117 membrane. The results are discussed based on the electrical, chemical, structural and mechanical properties of the membranes.