Membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for high temperature PEM Fuel Cells based on polymer / ionic liquid composites

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This German/Korean joint proposal (DFG / NRF) represents a fundamental study of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) system working at temperatures well above 100°C without the need of humidifying the feed gas. The membrane will be a composite consisting of an appropriate carrier polymer and an appropriate proton conducting ionic liquid (PIL), i.e. will be an alternative to HT-PEMFCs based on polybenzimidazole doped with phosphoric acid, the present state-of-the-art. The Korean partner is a specialist for polymer electrolyte membranes and will prepare those in such a way that appropriate ionic liquids can be adsorbed at inner interfaces or even chemisorbed (covalently bonded?). The German partner has a long-lasting experience with ionic liquids; he will identify and synthesize these appropriate ionic liquids. Both partners will test the proton conductivity of these polymer/ionic liquid composites and will try to elucidate the proton conductivity mechanism in polymer/ionic liquid composites. The German partner is also a specialist for electro-catalysis; he will identify and prepare appropriate electro-catalysts and try to elucidate the mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction, which in PEMFCs is always rate-determining. Fuel cells running at temperatures well above 100 °C allow the use of their waste heat for heating purposes (combined heat and power). Fuel cell tests with the innovative MEAs developed in this project will be conducted at both research locations.