Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most promising candidates among the various types of fuel cell systems due to their applications and mode of operation. There is a need for improvements to perfluorinated polymers such as lower membrane cost, high conductivity at high temperature (> 90°C) and low humidity, etc.
We prepared various acid-base composite membranes, and base compounds were found to be well incorporated into the nanostructure of sulfonic acid phase in Nafion polymers [1-9]. A propyl-1,2,3-triazole was synthesized by a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer solution (Nafion) with propyl alcohol using room temperature (RT) and autoclave (AC) solution processing [5-8]. Both the blend membranes were flexible. However, the Nafion-propyl-1,2,3-triazole membrane was required more improved chemical and mechanical stability. An annealing treatment was conducted at the temperature of 180 oC for 3 h. The annealing processing is responsible to increase a crystallinity in the nanostructure of pristine membrane. The annealed membrane showed more improved property than pristine in the chemical, mechanical, and crystallinity.
Acknowledgements
This work was partially supported by the MEXT program for development of environmental technology using nanotechnology.
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