Optimization of Current PEM Technology

The design of a fuel cell that can operate at temperatures greater then 100°C is desired in order to better suit the demands of industry. Research is geared towards optimizing functional group grafting onto inorganic/organic material used as a proton exchange membrane (PEM). Aluminum was grafted onto cubic structured mesoporous SBA-16 allowing for greater water retention at elevated temperatures. The conditions for this aluminum grafting reaction were adjusted to minimize the silica to aluminum ratio while still maintaining the SBA-16 mesostructure. The resulting aluminosilica samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma (ICP), nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (NMR), and small angle x-ray diffraction. Finally, perfluorosulfonic acid groups were grafted into the mesopores and tested with AC impedance spectroscopy to obtain impedances of up to 7 x 10-3 S/cm.