Recent advances of metal–organic frameworks‐based proton exchange membranes in fuel cell applications

• Published in: SusMat (Online) Vol. 2; no. 5; pp. 504 - 534
• Main Authors: Li, Xiao‐Min, Gao, Junkuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chengdu John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2022; Wiley
• Subjects: Acids; Cell interactions; Conductivity; Electrolytes; Emergency power systems; Energy efficiency; fuel cell; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Humidity; hybrid membrane; Membranes; Metal ions; Metal-organic frameworks; metal–organic framework; Polymers; Proton conduction; proton exchange membrane; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Protons; Retention; Substrates; Temperature; Water
• ISSN: 2692-4552; 2766-8479; 2692-4552
• DOI: 10.1002/sus2.88

In recent years, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC; PEMFC) has been widely studied and gradually applied to vehicle power supply, portable supply, communication base station backup, emergency power supply, and so on. Especially in new energy vehicles, PEMFC has absolute advantages and a broad market. PEM, which is the core component of PEMFC, has a close correlation between its property and the performance of FC. Therefore, developing excellent PEMs is the focus of researchers. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of metal ions/clusters and organic ligands have attracted extensive attention in the field of proton conduction. The hybrid membranes formed by MOFs and polymers show excellent performances and design concepts, which have great prospects in commercial application. This paper summarizes the research progress of MOFs‐based hybrid membranes as PEMs applied in hydrogen–oxygen FCs and direct methanol FCs, in which the different polymers used as substrates are also summed up. Recent advances in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as a versatile platform for proton conduction in the field of MOFs‐based proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cells are summarized in this review. Furthermore, the challenges, future trends, and prospects of MOF materials for PEMs are also discussed.