An Overview of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

Published

May 7, 2012

Author(s)

Brandon W. Rowe, Kirt A. Page

Abstract

While fuel cells have receive considerable attention over the last 10-20 years, the history of hydrogen fuel cells dates back to 1838. It would take more than a century before polymers would be impletmented as an electrolyte for proton transport (1955) and another 40 years after that before a real rennassaince would be sparked that would finally make polymer electrolyte fuel cells a conceivable means of electrochemical energy conversion. This chapter covers a brief history of the fuel cell and the use of polymer electrolytes as an ion-transport medium. In addition to an overview of the materials challenges, the various types of polymeric materials being pursued as potential fuel cell membranes is presented. Although this chapter is not exhausted review of the literature, it is our hope that it will give the reader an appreciation for the history of PEM fuel cells and the approaches that polymer chemists are taking in order to address the major impediments for wide-spread commericialization of PEM fuel cells.

Citation

: Polymers for Energy Storage and Delivery: Polyelectrolytes for Batteries and Fuel Cells

Publisher Info

American Chemical Society, Washington, DC

Pub Type

Book Chapters

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2012-1096.ch009

Local Download

Keywords

polymers, polyelectrolytes, fuel cells

Citation

Rowe, B. and Page, K. (2012), An Overview of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications, : Polymers for Energy Storage and Delivery: Polyelectrolytes for Batteries and Fuel Cells, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2012-1096.ch009, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=909357 (Accessed October 10, 2025)