Characterization of PBI Membranes for High Temperature PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (HT-PEM) Fuel Cells provide an attractive alternative to Low Temperature PEM fuel cells with respect to fuel flexibility, simplified cooling system, balance of plant and higher value waste heat without reactant humidification. Optimization of the PEM is critical to achievement of these performance benefits and PEMs derived from phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazoles (PBIs) are the most successful for high temperature operation. However, PBI-based membranes face a number of challenges, including oxidative stability and durability in a fuel cell. In this work we present single-cell fuel cell performance using m-PBI membranes with hydrogen.