Novel hybrid membranes based on polybenzimidazole and ETS-10 titanosilicate type material for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A comprehensive study on dense and porous systems

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 196; no. 21; pp. 8994 - 9007
• Main Authors: Eguizábal, A., Lemus, J., Urbiztondo, M., Garrido, O., Soler, J., Blazquez, J.A., Pina, M.P.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accounting; Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Drying; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrolytes; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; High temperature PEM; Methyl alcohol; Microporous fillers; Permeability; Polybenzimidazoles; Porosity; Porous hybrid PBI based membranes; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Sulfonic functionalization; Transport selectivity; Transport selectivity; Sulfonic functionalization; High temperature PEM; Porous hybrid PBI based membranes; Microporous fillers; Microporosity; Polybenzimidazole; Selectivity; High temperature; Filler; Porous material; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.03.006

Novel hybrid membranes based on polybenzimidazole (PBI) and ETS-10 titanosilicate type materials functionalized with sulfonic groups have been developed for high temperature PEMFC applications. In particular, 45% porous ETS-10/PBI electrolyte membranes in porosity have been reported for the first time in this work. A clear conduction outperforming is shown by porous PBI + 3 wt.% SO 3H-ETS-10 doped at 50 °C, attaining “in-plane” conductivity values up to 74 mS cm −1 at 180 °C under dry N 2 flow. The transport selectivity of the as prepared dense and porous PBI based membranes has been evaluated by comparison of “in-plane” conductivity/methanol permeability values at 50 °C, 100 °C and 150 °C. Accounting from that, dense pure PBI membranes are preferred at 50 °C (4.7 × 10 6 S·s·bar mol −1); whereas at 150 °C, dense PBI + 3% SO 3H-ETS-10 counterparts exhibit the higher conductivity/methanol permeability ratio (2.5 × 10 8 S·s·bar mol −1).