1 research outputs found
High-Temperature Ionic-Conducting Material: Advanced Structure and Improved Performance
A new composite proton-conducting
material based on the association
of an ionic liquid and a porous polymer support was prepared with
the aim of applying it as an electrolyte in a proton exchange membrane
fuel cell (PEMFC) at elevated temperature (130 Ā°C). The porous
support was made from a high glass-transition temperature polymer
(<i>T</i>g) by using the vapor-induced phase separation
(VIPS) method in conditions leading to highly interconnected porous
films. The ionic liquid tested was obtained by the reaction of a sulfonic
acid with a tertiary amine and presents enough high-temperature stability
to be used at elevated temperatures. Composite samples were prepared
by immersing pieces of porous film in the ionic liquids under test.
The porous support was characterized by scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), gas permeation, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests,
and the composite samples were characterized by mechanical and proton-conduction
measurements. At 130 Ā°C, this new material exhibits proton conductivity
(20 mS cm<sup>ā1</sup>) below, but very close to, that of the
pure ionic liquid (31 mS cm<sup>ā1</sup>) and presents, up
to at least 150 Ā°C, a storage modulus exceeding 200 MPa. This
is very promising considering the PEMFC applications