Plasma-polymerized phosphonic acid-based membranes for fuel cell

•Phosphonic acid-based plasma polymers have been prepared using a single precursor.•Properties of plasma films are logically correlated with the plasma discharge power.•Plasma films are thermally stable up to 150 °C and present good proton conduction.•Plasma films are competitive membranes for fuel cells operating beyond 80 °C.

In the highly competitive market of fuel cells, proton exchange membrane fuel cells operating in the range of 80–150 °C seem quite promising. One of the main hurdles for the emergence of such a technology is the development of phosphonic acid-based membranes characterized by high conductivity and stability beyond 80 °C. In this work, plasma polymers containing phosphonic acid groups have been successfully prepared using dimethyl allylphosphonate as a single precursor. Structural and transport properties of plasma polymers are logically correlated with the plasma discharge power. Under optimized plasma conditions, plasma films are thermally stable up to 150 °C and present the highest growth rate, concentration of ion exchange groups and proton conductivity, which make them competitive as membranes for fuel cells.

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