Modification of Ion Exchange Polymer Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)

Abstract

This systhesis suggests ion exchange membrane modification strategy to increase ion conductivity in low relative humidity polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, considering water management in membrane level. High relative ion conductivity based on reduced water uptake and water retention effect inside ion exchange membrane can improve the electrochemical property of conventional hydrocarbon aromatic membranes via the modification of ion conductive channel phase-separated morphology, fabrication of pore-filled reinfored membrane with highly functionalized meso-porous structures and self-humidifying surface treated membranes. Those developed membrane modification method are expected to be applied to various energy harvesting membrane system by using the enhanced selective ion transport behaviors.