New proton conducting polymer blends and their fuel cell performance

Novel polymer blends based on aromatic polyethers with pyridine units have been prepared for their use as electrolytes after being doped with phosphoric acid for high temperature PEM fuel cells. They exhibit very good film-forming properties, mechanical integrity, high modulus up to 230 degrees C, high glass transition temperatures (up to 260 degrees C) and high thermal stability up to 400 degrees C. In addition to the above required properties, these novel materials show high oxidative stability and acid doping ability, enabling proton conductivity in the range of 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 130 degrees C. The preparation and fuel cell testing of membrane electrode assemblies, demonstrated very promising performance, and an initial study has shown the positive effect of humidity on the measured conductivity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.