Proton exchange membrane with hydrophilic capillaries for elevated temperature PEM fuel cells

Novel water-retention proton exchange membrane of Nafion-phosphotungstic acid/mesoporous silica with hydrophilic capillaries has been fabricated to improve the elevated temperature performance of the PEM fuel cells. Due to the hydrophilic capillarity of the HPW/meso-SiO2 mesoporous structure, the Nafion-HPW/meso-SiO2 composite membrane retained 23.7 wt% of water after being dried in 100 °C for 2 h and then exposed in 25 RH% gas for 2 h. As a result, under the condition of elevated temperature of 120 °C and low humidity of 25 RH%, the Nafion-HPW/meso-SiO2 composite membrane showed a steady performance.