Thermal and mechanical properties of fuel cell polymeric membranes: Structure-property relationships

Fuel cells provide pollution-free clean energy and are extremely efficient. The most important component of fuel cell is the proton conductive membrane which transports proton from the anode to the cathode of the fuel cell, and also separates the fuel and the oxidant. Therefore, desirable properties of proton exchange membrane (PEM) include high proton conductivity, high resistance to electrons, impermeability to fuel and oxidants to avoid diffusion and leakage, long-term chemical and thermal stability, and good mechanical properties. In this chapter, effort has been made to highlight the response of thermal and mechanical properties with variation of different parameters characteristic of a typical fuel cell environment. These parameters include: water, solvent, temperature, degree of sulfonation, and filler. A detailed literature review has also been made regarding the studies conducted worldwide related to novel membrane development and property associated with these new materials. This review highlights the structure-property relationships in polymeric membranes.