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Soluble Polystyrene‐b‐poly (ethylene/butylene)‐b‐polystyrene Based Ionomer for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Operating at 70 °C

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gaurav GuptaORCiD, Emeritus Professor Keith Scott, Professor Mohamed MamloukORCiD

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2018.

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Abstract

A soluble ionomer based on styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS) block polymer was synthesized with an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 1.91 mmol g−1 and OH ion conductivity at 100% relative humidity (RH) of 0.14 and 0.18 S cm−1 at 50 and 70 °C, respectively. The performance of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with SEBS ionomer was highest compared to polyvinyl benzyl chloride (PVBC) and Acta I2 ionomers at 0.5 V at both 50 °C (239 mW cm−2) and 70 °C (285 mW cm−2) using air and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) membrane. This was largely due to the lower charge transfer resistance measured for the MEA using SEBS ionomer which is due to higher IEC, better water uptake and water retention properties. Ionomer water permeability is also critical for the back diffusion and the membrane where SEBS ionomer showed large advantage over PVBC ionomer.The long‐term testing of 50 h at 50 and 70 °C also showed better durability of the SEBS compared to the commercial Acta I2 ionomer with an average performance loss of 3 mA h−1 at 50 °C. The MEAs tested at 70 °C failed after 15 h (Acta I2) and 25 h (SEBS) due to pin‐hole formation in the membrane.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Gupta G, Scott K, Mamlouk M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Fuel Cells

Year: 2018

Volume: 18

Issue: 2

Pages: 137-147

Print publication date: 01/04/2018

Online publication date: 02/04/2018

Acceptance date: 20/02/2018

Date deposited: 11/04/2018

ISSN (print): 1615-6846

ISSN (electronic): 1615-6854

Publisher: Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201700176

DOI: 10.1002/fuce.201700176

Data Access Statement: http://dx.doi.org/10.17634/138124-4


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
BH141511Newcastle University - Internally Funded Projects
BH162217
BH163940Newcastle University - Internally Funded Projects
EP/M005895/1EPSRC

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