LAPSE:2021.0060
Published Article
LAPSE:2021.0060
Self-Humidifying Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications: Advances and Challenges
Seyed Hesam Mirfarsi, Mohammad Javad Parnian, Soosan Rowshanzamir
February 22, 2021
Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) provide efficient and carbon-free power by converting the hydrogen chemical energy. The PEFCs can reach their greatest performance in humidified condition, as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) should be humidified for their proton transportation function. Thus, external humidifiers are commonly employed to increase the water content of reactants. However, being burdened with external humidifiers can make the control of PEFCs complicated and costly, in particular for transportation application. To overcome this issue, self-humidifying PEMs have been introduced, with which PEFC can be fed by dry reactants. In fact, internal humidification is accomplished by produced water from the recombination of permeated hydrogen and oxygen gases on the incorporated platinum catalysts within the PEM. While the water production agent remains constant, there is a broad range of additives that are utilized to retain the generated water and facilitate the proton conduction path in the PEM. This review paper has classified the aforementioned additives in three categories: inorganic materials, proton-conductive materials, and carbon-based additives. Moreover, synthesis methods, preparation procedures, and characterization tests are overviewed. Eventually, self-humidifying PEMs endowed with platinum and different additives are compared from performance and stability perspectives, such as water uptake, proton conductivity, fuel cell performance, gas cross-over, and the overall durability. In addition, their challenges and possible solutions are reviewed. Considering the concerns regarding the long-term durability of such PEMs, it seems that further investigations can be beneficial to confirm their reliability for prolonged PEFC operation.
Keywords
gas cross-over, nanocomposite membranes, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, proton exchange membranes, self-humidifying membranes, ultra-thin membranes
Suggested Citation
Mirfarsi SH, Parnian MJ, Rowshanzamir S. Self-Humidifying Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications: Advances and Challenges. (2021). LAPSE:2021.0060
Author Affiliations
Mirfarsi SH: School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran; Fuel Cell Laboratory, Green Research Center, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran
Parnian MJ: School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran; Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada [ORCID]
Rowshanzamir S: School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran; Fuel Cell Laboratory, Green Research Center, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran; Center of Excellence for
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
8
Issue
9
Article Number
E1069
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-09-01
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: pr8091069, Publication Type: Review
Record Map
Published Article

LAPSE:2021.0060
This Record
External Link

doi:10.3390/pr8091069
Publisher Version
Download
Files
[Download 1v1.pdf] (3.1 MB)
Feb 22, 2021
Main Article
License
CC BY 4.0
Meta
Record Statistics
Record Views
402
Version History
[v1] (Original Submission)
Feb 22, 2021
 
Verified by curator on
Feb 22, 2021
This Version Number
v1
Citations
Most Recent
This Version
URL Here
https://psecommunity.org/LAPSE:2021.0060
 
Original Submitter
Calvin Tsay
Links to Related Works
Directly Related to This Work
Publisher Version