High Temperature Membranes Portal Page

High temperature membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) are being developed by a number of companies worldwid.

The membrane is the heart of the PEM fuel cell effectively acting as the filter to extract the electricity. Current membrane technologies have limitations and high temperature membranes can offer solutions to the problems.

Why the need for High Temperature Membranes?

• Fuels - High temperature systems (above 120°C) have higher tolerances to impurities (particularly CO) in the hydrogen. The optimum tolerance to impurities is at temperatures exceeding 150°C which is best suited to stationary systems.
• Operational temperature – due to structural limitations current water-based membranes can only work up to 80°C.
• System design - Fuel cell stacks operating at 80°C require large radiators/heat exchangers (for the automotive sector there are potential 50% reductions to radiator size) to extract the heat. For stationary applications (over 150°C) the CO tolerance would eliminate some fuel processor (reformer) components.
• Performance - Increasing the operating temperature of the system increases the electrode kinetic rates which improves the performance of the fuel cell
• Water management – as high temperature membranes are generally non-water based there is no need for humidification.

Industry requirements

• Operating temperature
• Automotive - over 120°C
• Stationary - over 150°C
• Low cost
• High tolerance to impurities
• Durable
• Long term chemical and mechanical stability
• Low resistance
• Increased stability must not compromise conductivity

There are a number of opportunities for fuel cell developers to become involved in developing high temperature PEM systems and a number of products in development.