P E M

P E M -E D
Proton Exchange Membranes for Application in
Medium Temperature Electrochemical Devices
Coordinator:
Contact point:
Contract
Start:
Duration:
FuMA-Tech GmbH
(Germany)
Dr. Bernd Bauer
N° ERK6-CT-1999-00025
March 2000
48 month
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Scotland
Germany
University of Strathclyde
FuMA-Tech GmbH
IFEU GmbH
The Partnership:
Switzerland
SEFAR AG
9 partners from 5 countries
5 industries
2 universities
2 research organisations
Italy
France
NUVERA s.r.l.
Electricité de France
Università degli Studi di Perugia
CNRS Montpellier
CNR Messina
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Industrial Partners
•FuMA-Tech GmbH
•NUVERA Fuel Cells
•IFEU GmbH Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung GmbH)
•Electricité de France (Division Recherche et Développement, Service Matériel
Electrique)
•SEFAR AG (Filtration Division)
Universities and Research Organisations:
•CNRS Montpellier
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Laboratoire des Agrégats Moléculaires et Matériaux Inorganiques
•CNR-TAE Messina
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Instituto di Ricerche sui Metodi e Processi Chimici per la Trasformazione e l’ Accumulo dell’
Energia
•Università degli Studi di Perugia
Dipartimento di Chimica, Laboratorio di Chimica Inorganica
•University of Strathclyde
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Main Objectives of PEM-ED
•New protonic materials
• stable up to 180 °C
• having a conductivity preferably 10-3-10-1 Scm-1
• Based on
• sulfonated polymers
• hybrid inorganic-organic systems
State-of-the-Art:
Solid state protonic conductive materials currently
known are suitable in temperature ranges either
below 80°C or above 800°C !
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Major Problems to be solved within PEM-ED
Case 1:
• Proton conductivity at medium temperature and
low humidities (< 30 % r.h.)
Case 2:
• Proton conductivity at high temperature and zero
humidification
Expectations into cost-reduction of fuel cells:
• enhanced CO tolerance of the MEA
• easier heat and water management of the system
à Simplification of the powertrain
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Desired Properties of Membranes for HT fuel cells
••
••
••
••
••
••
••
Chemical
Chemical mechanical
mechanical and
and electrochemical
electrochemical stability
stability
High
High proton
proton conductivities
conductivities
Extremely
Extremely low
low permeability
permeability to
to gases
gases
Excellent
Excellent water
water management
management
Production
Production costs
costs compatible
compatible with
with application
application (mobile,
(mobile, stationary,
stationary, portable)
portable)
Chemical
Chemical properties
properties compatible
compatible to
to MEA
MEA bonding
bonding requirements
requirements
Recyclable
Recyclable (no
(no fluoride)
fluoride)
FUEL
FUEL CELL
CELL BATTERIES
BATTERIES
•• Suitable
Suitable for
for high
high temperatures
temperatures (90°C
(90°C à
à 130°C
130°C à
à 165°C)
165°C)
•• Self
Self humidification
humidification
•• High
High conductivities
conductivities at
at low
low relative
relative humidity
humidity or
or even
even dry
dry membrane
membrane
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
State-of-the-Art in medium temperature fuel cells
• Sulfonated non-fluorinated polymers
• strong humidification necessary
• deactivation of sulfonic acid groups at T > 160 °C
• Phosphoric acid fuel cells with immobilized electrolyte
• H3PO4- doped polybenzimidazoles
• loss of electrolyte (corrosion)
• low conductivity at T < 120 °C
• Inorganic zirconium phosphate proton conductors
• no remarkable proton conductivity at T< 250 °C
Novel approach (first R&D initiated in 1994)
Hybrid inorganic-organic systems based on sulfonated
polymers and inorganic phosphonates
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
Conductivity σ (Scm^-1)
P E M -E D
1x10
1x10
1x10
1x10
-1
fluorinated polymer membrane
-2
-3
non-fluorinated polymer membrane
-4
80
100
Measured at a relative humidity of 75% r.h.
120
140
160
T (°C)
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Schematic representation
of the structure of
gamma zirconium
sulfophenylphosphonate,
a proton conductor that
can be used as a
component of
hybrid proton conducting
membranes
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Project Schedule
WORKPACKAGE / MANPOWER BARCHART
Duration
Workpackages
1st year
1
2
3
2nd year
4
1
2
3
3rd year
4
1
2
3
4rd year
4
1
2
3
4
Workpackage 1: Polymer development
Workpackage 2: Development of polymer membrane
Workpackage 3: Proton conducting materials for exfoliation
Workpackage 4: Develop. of organic-inorganic hybrid membr.
Workpackage 5: Membrane characterisation
Workpackage 6: Electrode and MEA development
Workpackage 7: Examination of fuel cell performance
Workpackage 8: Socio-economical evaluation
Workpackage 9: Projekt management/Exploitation
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
1000
H2/O 2
cell voltage (mV)
800
90°C
600
400
200
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
current density (A/cm 2)
1
1.2
1.4
Hybrid Membrane (1,96 meq/g, 40 µm)
16 cm2 active area single cell, Nafion impregnated ELAT electrodes
pH2 = 3.5 bar a and pO2 = 4 bar, Cell temperature 90°C, Humidifiers: 100°C
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
PEM fuel cell stack
(Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe)
Membrane electrode assembly
(CNR-TAE Institute Messina)
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)
P E M -E D
Users of medium temperature fuel cells
• mobile applications (prerequisite for mass production)
– Passenger cars (2x35 kW stacks)
– Busses (stacks with a total output of up to 120 kW)
• stationary applications (advantage in cost reduction)
–
–
–
–
residential power stations (1 to 30 kW output)
Combination of fuel cells and gas turbine emissions
On-site energy production (premium power)
On-site hydrogen production (water electrolysis)
• Portable applications (low impact)
Dr. Bernd Bauer (FuMA-Tech GmbH)