ABSTRACT
The energy and environmental issues are challenging the human society greatly in the postindustrial age now, in the areas from economic development strategy, hightechindustry, to daily lifestyles. Since the 1960s, the interests and investments in fuel cell technology have grown quickly and branched into –ve major types, includingalkaline fuel cell (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), for the diversi–ed fuel choices, high energy ef–ciency, and environmentalfriendship.1 AFC using alkali solution (e.g., KOH) as the electrolyte is
11.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 495 11.2 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane .................................................................... 496 11.3AEM ............................................................................................................. 497
11.3.1Membrane Preparation ..................................................................... 497 11.3.2Aromatic Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for AEM Fuel Cells ........ 497
11.3.2.1 Polysulfones ....................................................................... 498 11.3.2.2Poly(Arylene Ether)s .......................................................... 501 11.3.2.3Polybenzimidazoles ........................................................... 510 11.3.2.4Poly( p-Phenylene Oxide)s ................................................. 511 11.3.2.5Other Aromatic Polymers .................................................. 513
11.3.3 Membrane Modi–cation ................................................................... 516 11.3.3.1Cross-Linking Modi–cation .............................................. 516 11.3.3.2Inorganic-Organic Composite (Hybrid) Modi–cation ...... 517 11.3.3.3Blend Modi–cation ............................................................ 518
11.3.4Membrane Characterization and Measurements .............................. 519 11.3.4.1Fundamental Physicochemical Properties ......................... 519 11.3.4.2 Chemical Stability ............................................................. 528
11.4Summary and Perspectives ........................................................................... 529 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 531 References .............................................................................................................. 531
the pioneer type used in real sense primarily developed by Francis Thomas Bacon, anditsapplicationcanbedatedbacktotheNASAApolloprogramandotherdemonstrationprojects.However,itfellbehindthePEMFCwithprotonexchangemembranesduetothecost,reliability,operability,andsecurityissuesassociatedwiththe fuelleakageproblem.Therefore,thealternationofpolymerelectrolytemembrane (PEM) as the hydroxide conductor, named as alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane,insteadofalkalisolutionsdrewattentionsinthepastfewyears.2-5 Figure 11.1 illustrates the construction and working principle of an AEM fuel cell.
