Sulfonimide polyphosphazene-based H2/O2 fuel cells

Abstract

Sulfonimide-functionalized polyphosphazenes have been investigated as polymer electrolyte membranes for use in an H2/O2 fuel cell. A sulfonimide polyphosphazene-based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a Nafion-based MEA with similar catalyst loadings were fabricated and tested within a fuel cell system. The maximum power density for the sulfonimide polyphosphazene MEA was 0.36 W cm-2 at 0.87 A cm-2 and 22°C, and reached 0.47 W cm-2 at 1.29 A cm-2 at 80°C. The performance of the sulfonimide polyphosphazene-based H2/O2 fuel cell was found to be comparable to that of the Nafion-based fuel cell.