Synthesis and physico chemical studies on proton exchange polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications

Abstract

This thesis is divided into seven chapters. First chapter describes the importance of energy, sustainable development, history of fuel cell and the role of fuel cells in various devices. Fuel cell is one of the promising alternative energy conversion devices for the future energy requirements. In overcoming fossil fuel exhaustion at high rates due to the growing population and environmental pollution, clean energy technology plays a significant role. This chapter also discusses the component of fuel cells, types of fuel cells, classification of polymer electrolyte membranes, applications of fuel cells and review of literature. It is surmised that the development of electrolyte membrane for fuel cells has become inevitable for further research and technology. Polymer Electrolte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) has been widely used in automotive, stationary and portable power sources, because of its high conversion efficiency and low emission of pollutants. Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) is a heart of the fuel cell. Nafion®, a wellknown perfluorinated PEM material is used as an electrolyte for PEMFC application because of its high proton conductivity, good mechanical strength and excellent thermal and oxidative stability. However, the major hindrance in using Nafion membrane for device application and commercialization is that its complicated synthetic procedure and high cost. Thus the development and fabrication of organic inorganic composite membranes using aromatic polymers is an alternative approach for the researchers to yield membranes with good proton conductivity newline