Fuel cell rejuvenation of hygrothermally aged Nafion®

Nafion (R) membranes stored for long periods at 80 degrees C under elevated relative humidity up to 95%RH exhibit large modifications of their properties attributed to the sulfonic acid end-group condensation into sulfonic anhydrides. The present study is devoted to the membrane property rejuvenation, namely the hydrolysis of the sulfonic anhydrides under different experimental conditions. Aged membranes were exposed to pure water and to acid solutions or vapors in order to check the reversibility of the condensation reaction. Indeed, the hydrolysis process is slow in pure water and limited while it is fast and complete in the presence of acid or base. The native polymer chemical structure and the main membrane properties (mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, etc.) are completely restored. No evidence of hygrothermal aging was observed after fuel cell operation and it is shown that a membrane previously aged under ex situ conditions can be completely rejuvenated when operated in fuel cell. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.