Physically stable and high performance Aquivion/ePTFE composite membrane for high temperature fuel cell application

• Physically stable short-side-chain membrane for high temperature fuel cells.
• Swelling and humidity-induced stress reduced by the porous PTFE membranes.
• High performance and area conductivity at 60–120 °C and 25% RH.

We developed a new Aquivion/ePTFE composite polymer electrode membrane using the short side chain (SSC) Aquivion™ PFSA. The mechanical properties and the proton conductivities of the composite membrane are characterized under high temperature, low relative humidity conditions. The single cell performance of the composite membrane is also evaluated under high temperature and low humidity conditions. The results show that the Aquivion/ePTFE composite membranes prepared possess high physical stability as well as good proton conductivity. The single cells of the composite membrane show excellent performance at 25% relative humidity (RH) over the temperature range from 60 °C to 120 °C. Owing to its good physical stability and excellent area proton conductivity, the Aquivion/ePTFE composite polymer electrode membranes hold great promise for high temperature PEM fuel cell applications.