High-performance imidazole-containing polymers for applications in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells  

作　　者：Tong Mu Lele Wang Qian Wang Yang Wu Patric Jannasch Jingshuai Yang 

机构地区：[1]Department of Chemistry,College of Sciences,Northeastern University,Shenyang 110819,Liaoning,China [2]Polymer&Materials Chemistry,Department of Chemistry,Lund University,SE-22100 Lund,Sweden [3]College of Chemistry,Liaoning University,Shenyang 10036,Liaoning,China

出　　处：《Journal of Energy Chemistry》2024年第11期512-523,共12页能源化学（英文版）

基　　金：Natural Science Foundation of China (51603031);Liaoning Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2020-MS-087);China Scholarship Council(202306080157)。

摘　　要：This work focuses on the development of high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes(HT-PEMs)as key materials for HT-PEM fuel cells(HT-PEMFCs).Recognizing the challenges associated with the phosphoric acid(PA) doped polybenzimidazole(PBI) membranes,including the use of carcinogenic monomers and complex synthesis procedures,this study aims to develop more cost-effective,readily synthesized,and high-performance alternatives.A series of superacid-catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reactions have been carefully designed between p-terphenyl and aldehydes bearing imidazole moieties,resulting in a new class of HT-PEMs.It is found that the chemical structure of aldehyde-substituted N-heterocycles significantly impacts the polymerization reaction.Specifically,the use of 1-methyl-2-imidazole-formaldehyde and 1 H-imidazole-4-formaldehyde monomers leads to the formation of high-viscosity,rigid,and ether-free polymers,denoted as PTIm-a and PTIm-b.Membranes fabricated from these polymers,due to their pendent imidazole groups,exhibit an exceptional capacity for PA absorption.Notably,PTIm-a,carrying methylimidazole moieties,demonstrates a superior chemical stability by maintaining morphology and structural stability during 350 h of Fenton testing.After being immersed in 75 wt% PA at 40℃,the PTIm-a membrane reaches a PA content of 152%,maintains a good tensile strength of 13.6 MPa,and exhibits a moderate conductivity of 50.2 mS cm^(-1) at 180℃.Under H_(2)/O_(2) operational conditions,a single cell based on the PTIm-a membrane attains a peak power density of 732 mW cm^(-2) at 180℃ without backpressure.Furthermore,the membrane demonstrates stable cycle stability over 173 h within 18 days at a current density of 200 mA cm^(-2),indicating its potential for practical application in HT-PEMFCs.This work highlights innovative strategies for the synthesis of advanced HT-PEMs,offering significant improvements in membrane properties and fuel cell performance,thus expanding the horizons of HT-PEMFC technology.

关 键 词：High temperature polymer electrolyte membrane Imidazole-containing polymer Chemical stability Fuel cell 

分 类 号：TM911.4[电气工程—电力电子与电力传动] TQ317[化学工程—高聚物工业]