Polymer-supported 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate and 1-ethylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate as electrolytes for the high temperature PEM-type fuel cell

Membranes were prepared by casting a solution of a polymer and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate or 1-ethylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate as typical representatives of aprotic and protic ionic liquids and then evaporating the solvent. The following two polymers were used: poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) and Nafion. The prepared membranes were tested with respect to their ionic conductivity in dependence on temperature under dry conditions and under humidification. Subsequently, selected membranes were tested in a laboratory fuel cell. Whereas satisfactory ionic conductivity was observed for the prepared membranes, temperatures above 100 °C resulted in a low output performance of the fuel cell for all membrane materials under study. The main reason proposed for this is the low MEA conductivity for hydrogen ions.

► Polymer-supported ionic liquids tested in the HT PEM fuel cell.
► Impact of the polymer support and ionic liquid compatibility on the properties of resulting materials verified.
► Functionalised vs. non-functionalised polymers used as a support.
► Very low fuel cell performance observed when compared with the traditional phosphoric acid doped PBI type membrane.