Novel Direct Methanol Fuel Cell MEA Technology for Electronics Applications
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Specific plans to meet the obectives of the programme include the synthesis, characterisation, and fabrication into proton-transport membranes of three new types of ionomers, namely: (i) micro-phase separated aromatic ether-ketone ionomers, including especially semi-crystalline ionomers in which the ionic (sulfonic acid) groups will segregate into the amorphous phase, leaving the crystalline regions to provide mechanical strength, resistance to swelling and good methanol-barrier characteristics. The molecular design of such materials will build on our recent discovery that swelling-resistant ionomers with high proton-exchange capacities can be obtained by concentrating the ionic groups into very short segments of an aromatic polymer chain. (ii) semi-crystalline ionomer-composites comprising blends of high-proton-exchange capacity dopants such as phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acids with high molar mass poly(ether-ketone) sulfonic acids. It is anticipated that the phthalocyanine component will be excluded from the ordered, crystalline phase, and concentrated in the amorphous, ionic phase, increasing proton conductivity through this phase without loss of the mechanical integrity arising from the non-hydrated crystalline phase. Preliminary evidence from non-crystalline blends suggests that the phthalocyanine component will be irreversibly bound within the ionic regions of the polymer matrix, and will therefore be resistant to extraction by aqueous methanol. (iii) hyperbranched ionomers obtained by copolymerisation of a sulfonatable AB2-type monomer with a non-sulfonatable AB-type monomer, followed by sulfonation of the resulting copolymer to afford an entirely novel type of ionomer in which the ionic groups are concentrated in a highly branched phase. Since hyperbranching can be regarded as an incipient form of cross-linking, hyperbranched materials of this type should show greater resistance to swelling and to methanol crossover when compared to their linear analogues of equivalent ion-exchange capacity. Solvent-systems will be designed for all ionomers synthesised in this project; where necessary making use of acidic and/or strongly hydrogen bonding solvents to take the more solvent-resistant, semi-crystalline ionomers into solution for membrane casting. The objective here is to supply membrane samples (with a minimum area of 300 sq. cm) to the lead partner for ongoing evaluation in DMFC operation, with continuous feedback of results into the membrane design and synthesis programme.
Publications
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Smith D
(2013)
A Microblock Ionomer in Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis for the Production of High Purity Hydrogen
in Macromolecules
Description | This EPSRC grant funded the University of Reading (UoR) contribution to a TSB-funded consortium, led by Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells. The aim of the project was to develop materials (catalysts, membranes, gas diffusion layers etc.) for direct methanol fuel cells with enhanced performance and durability over existing materials. At Reading, two new classes of proton-transport membranes, one based on aromatic polyethersulfones and a second on polyetherketones, were developed, scaled up by a contract manufacturer, and shown by Johnson Matthey to have considerably improved performance - in terms of a balance between proton conductivity and methanol crossover - relative to previous membranes of this type. |
Exploitation Route | High-performance, low-cost ionomer-membranes for PEM fuel cells, using hydrogen or methanol as feedstocks. Also in membrane-electrolysers for hydrogen generation from renewable sources of electricity. Further evaluation of the new types of ionomer-membranes in fuel cell operation, and evaluation by end-users in membrane-electrode assemblies. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Creative Economy,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
URL | http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/project/DEC775A5-74E0-4030-B445-1F2C246B3C41 |
Description | This project demonstrated conclusively that aromatic ionomer membranes can have superior performance to fluorocarbon membranes in operational direct-methanol fuel cells. Also that such membranes can be manufactured more economically and with less environmental damage than their fluorocarbon analogues. The work thus had significant impact on the development agendas of the companies involved in the project consortium, notably Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells. This work also resulted in a PhD studentship (2011-2014) on electrolyser membranes for hydrogen production, part-funded by the EU "Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking" programme. The membranes we developed were manufactured by a German membrane company and evaluated in hydrogen production by Norwegian and French government agencies. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Collaborative PhD studentship: High-acidity fuel cell membranes |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Johnson Matthey |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2011 |
End | 09/2014 |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £1,082,655 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/G026203/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2009 |
End | 12/2013 |
Description | EU FP7 Joint Undertaking: "Next Generation Polymer Membrane Electrolyser" |
Amount | € 28,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 245262 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 12/2012 |
Description | Johnson Matthey plc |
Organisation | Johnson Matthey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Collaboration on fuel-cell membranes in which Reading developed new ionic polymers and developed methods for casting membranes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Johnson Matthey were able to fabricate our membranes into membrane-electrode assemblies and evaluate these under actual fuel-cell operating conditions. |
Impact | Patents and publications. Funding for PhD studentships. Collaborative TSB projects. See relevant sections. |