Fabrication of solid proton conducting high performance composite membranes for the application of hydrogen fuel cells

Abstract

The hydrogen fuel cell advantageously used as clean energy generators due to significant technological and economical advantages. Highly efficient and mechanically stable proton exchange membranes are demanded for high temperature fuel cells (FCs) working conditions. To this end, we have fabricated inorganic solid proton conductors as energy transport carrier components in composite membranes and tested for their performance in high temperature H2-aerated hydrogen fuel cells. The as-developed system exhibited higher activity up to maximum power density of ca. 27.714 mW/cm2 and current density of ca. 117.7 mA/cm2 at a cell voltage of 0.354 V at 60 0°C working temperature. In addition, the enhanced mechanical stability was observed at different operating temperatures and pressures on the fuel cell performance of a composite membrane. Their mechanical stabilities were also confirmed by tensile mechanical testing mechanism, which showed excellent results for their mechanical strength. The obtained outstanding performance of hydrogen fuel cell membranes attribute toward the construction of composite membranes with incorporation of solid inorganic species as proton conductors in the matrix.