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Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2016) | Viewed by 55899

Special Issue Editor

Robotics Process Development Laboratory (RPDL), Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA
Interests: industrial robots; autonomous vehicles; machine vision; machine learning; advanced manufacturing; fuel cells; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fuel cells are key elements for building a competitive, secure and sustainable clean energy economy. The broad range of benefits to the environment, economy and energy security that fuel cells can offer include reduced oil consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced pollution, highly efficient energy conversion and highly reliable grid support.

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology continues to be one of the most popular type of fuel cells. It offers the advantages of delivering higher gravimetric and volumetric power densities and of operating at lower temperatures which results in a quicker start up time and less wear on the system components. Unlike other fuel cell types, PEMFCs have a wide range of applications at both small and large scale, including transportation, portable, micro-combined heat and power and backup power.

To address the needs in today’s fuel cell industry, this Special Issue on PEMFCs focuses on research related to:

  • Material durability and reliability
  • Innovative and alternative materials for PEMFCs
  • Characterization methods
  • Air, heat and water management
  • Numerical modelling and simulations
  • Fuel cell system integration
  • Industrial production technologies
  • Operating strategies
  • Methods and strategies for material quality control

Prof. Dr. Vladimir Gurau
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • PEMFCs
  • numerical simulations
  • modeling
  • fuel cell characterization
  • materials and components for fuel cells
  • thermal and water management
  • degradation
  • production technology
  • system integration

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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8838 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Numerical and Experimental Studies for Flow-Field Optimization Based on Under-Rib Convection in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
by Nguyen Duy Vinh and Hyung-Man Kim
Energies 2016, 9(10), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9100844 - 20 Oct 2016
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6017
Abstract
The flow-field design based on under-rib convection plays an important role in enhancing the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) because it ensures the uniform distribution of the reacting gas and the facilitation of water. This research focused on developing suitable [...] Read more.
The flow-field design based on under-rib convection plays an important role in enhancing the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) because it ensures the uniform distribution of the reacting gas and the facilitation of water. This research focused on developing suitable configurations of the anode and cathode bipolar plates to enhance the fuel cell performance based on under-rib convection. The work here evaluated the effects of flow-field designs, including a serpentine flow field with sub channel and by pass and a conventional serpentine flow-field on single-cell performance. Both the experiment and computer simulation indicated that the serpentine flow field with sub channel and by pass (SFFSB) configuration enables more effective utilization of the electrocatalysts since it improves reactant transformation rate from the channel to the catalyst layer, thereby dramatically improving the fuel cell performance. The simulation and experimental results indicated that the power densities are increased by up to 16.74% and 18.21%, respectively, when applying suitable flow-field configurations to the anode and cathode bipolar plates. The findings in this are the foundation for enhancing efficient PEMFCs based on flow field design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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2790 KiB  
Article
DMFC Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Prepared from a Graft-Copolymer Consisting of a Polysulfone Main Chain and Styrene Sulfonic Acid Side Chains
by Nobutaka Endo, Yoshiaki Ogawa, Kohei Ukai, Yuriko Kakihana and Mitsuru Higa
Energies 2016, 9(8), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9080658 - 19 Aug 2016
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5936
Abstract
Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications were prepared from a graft-copolymer (PSF-g-PSSA) consisting of a polysulfone (PSF) main chain and poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) side chains with various average distances between side chains (Lav) [...] Read more.
Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications were prepared from a graft-copolymer (PSF-g-PSSA) consisting of a polysulfone (PSF) main chain and poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) side chains with various average distances between side chains (Lav) and side chain lengths (Lsc). The polymers were synthesized by grafting ethyl p-styrenesulfonate (EtSS) on macro-initiators of chloromethylated polysulfone with different contents of chloromethyl (CM) groups, and by changing EtSS content in the copolymers by using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The DMFC performance tests using membrane electrode assemblis (MEAs) with the three types of the PEMs revealed that: a PSF-g-PSSA PEM (SF-6) prepared from a graft copolymer with short average distances between side chains (Lav) and medium Lsc had higher DMFC performance than PEMs with long Lav and long Lsc or with short Lav and short Lsc. SF-6 had about two times higher PDmax (68.4 mW/cm2) than Nafion® 112 at 30 wt % of methanol concentration. Furthermore, it had 58.2 mW/cm2 of PDmax at 50 wt % of methanol concentration because of it has the highest proton selectivity during DMFC operation of all the PSF-g-PSSA PEMs and Nafion® 112. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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4343 KiB  
Article
Development of a PEM Fuel Cell City Bus with a Hierarchical Control System
by Siliang Cheng, Liangfei Xu, Jianqiu Li, Chuan Fang, Junming Hu and Minggao Ouyang
Energies 2016, 9(6), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9060417 - 30 May 2016
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 9022
Abstract
The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is considered to be an ideal alternative for the internal combustion engine, especially when used on a city bus. Hybrid buses with fuel cell systems and energy storage systems are now undergoing transit service demonstrations [...] Read more.
The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is considered to be an ideal alternative for the internal combustion engine, especially when used on a city bus. Hybrid buses with fuel cell systems and energy storage systems are now undergoing transit service demonstrations worldwide. A hybrid PEM fuel cell city bus with a hierarchical control system is studied in this paper. Firstly, the powertrain and hierarchical control structure is introduced. Secondly, the vehicle control strategy including start-stop strategy, energy management strategy, and fuel cell control strategy, including the hydrogen system and air system control strategies, are described in detail. Finally, the performance of the fuel cell was analyzed based on road test data. Results showed that the different subsystems were well-coordinated. Each component functioned in concert in order to ensure that both safety and speed requirements were satisfied. The output current of the fuel cell system changed slowly and the output voltage was limited to a certain range, thereby enhancing durability of the fuel cell. Furthermore, the economic performance was optimized by avoiding low load conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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4161 KiB  
Article
Cooling Performance Characteristics of the Stack Thermal Management System for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles under Actual Driving Conditions
by Ho-Seong Lee, Choong-Won Cho, Jae-Hyeong Seo and Moo-Yeon Lee
Energies 2016, 9(5), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9050320 - 25 Apr 2016
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6667
Abstract
The cooling performance of the stack radiator of a fuel cell electric vehicle was evaluated under various actual road driving conditions, such as highway and uphill travel. The thermal stability was then optimized, thereby ensuring stable operation of the stack thermal management system. [...] Read more.
The cooling performance of the stack radiator of a fuel cell electric vehicle was evaluated under various actual road driving conditions, such as highway and uphill travel. The thermal stability was then optimized, thereby ensuring stable operation of the stack thermal management system. The coolant inlet temperature of the radiator in the highway mode was lower than that associated with the uphill mode because the corresponding frontal air velocity was higher than obtained in the uphill mode. In both the highway and uphill modes, the coolant temperatures of the radiator, operated under actual road driving conditions, were lower than the allowable limit (80 °C); this is the maximum temperature at which stable operation of the stack thermal management system of the fuel cell electric vehicle could be maintained. Furthermore, under actual road driving conditions in uphill mode, the initial temperature difference (ITD) between the coolant temperature and air temperature of the system was higher than that associated with the highway mode; this higher ITD occurred even though the thermal load of the system in uphill mode was greater than that corresponding to the highway mode. Since the coolant inlet temperature is expected to exceed the allowable limit (80 °C) in uphill mode under higher ambient temperature with air conditioning system operation, the FEM design layout should be modified to improve the heat capacity. In addition, the overall volume of the stack cooling radiator is 52.2% higher than that of the present model and the coolant inlet temperature of the improved radiator is 22.7% lower than that of the present model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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4316 KiB  
Article
Critical Filler Concentration in Sulfated Titania-Added Nafion™ Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications
by Mirko Sgambetterra, Sergio Brutti, Valentina Allodi, Gino Mariotto, Stefania Panero and Maria Assunta Navarra
Energies 2016, 9(4), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9040272 - 06 Apr 2016
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4923
Abstract
In this communication we present a detailed study of Nafion™ composite membranes containing different amounts of nanosized sulfated titania particles, synthesized through an optimized one-step synthesis procedure. Functional membrane properties, such as ionic exchange capacity and water uptake (WU) ability will be described [...] Read more.
In this communication we present a detailed study of Nafion™ composite membranes containing different amounts of nanosized sulfated titania particles, synthesized through an optimized one-step synthesis procedure. Functional membrane properties, such as ionic exchange capacity and water uptake (WU) ability will be described and discussed, together with thermal analysis, atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy data. Also electrochemical properties such as proton conductivity and performances in hydrogen fuel cells will be presented. It has been demonstrated that a critical concentration of filler particles can boost the fuel cell performance at low humidification, exhibiting a significant improvement of the maximum power and current density delivered under 30% low-relative humidity (RH) and 70 °C with respect to bare Nafion™-based systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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2791 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Tetra-Imidazolium Hydroxide Polyphenylene Membranes via Nickel Catalyzed C–C Coupling Polymerization
by Hohyoun Jang, Soonho Lee, Jaeseong Ha, Kunyoung Choi, Taewook Ryu, Kyunghwan Kim, Heung-Seok Jeon and Whangi Kim
Energies 2016, 9(4), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9040271 - 06 Apr 2016
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4758
Abstract
Imidazolium hydroxide anion exchange membranes functionalized with conjugated tetraphenylethylene moieties were synthesized via Ni(0) catalyzed polymerization by sequential chloromethylation, substitution with imidazoliums and ion exchange. Moreover, with their pendant benzoyl groups the copolymers showed high molecular weight, durability, thermo-oxidative stability, high solubility in [...] Read more.
Imidazolium hydroxide anion exchange membranes functionalized with conjugated tetraphenylethylene moieties were synthesized via Ni(0) catalyzed polymerization by sequential chloromethylation, substitution with imidazoliums and ion exchange. Moreover, with their pendant benzoyl groups the copolymers showed high molecular weight, durability, thermo-oxidative stability, high solubility in polar aprotic solvents and strong chemical and thermal stability in comparison to alkyl quaternary ammonium-functionalized polymers. The proposed polymer membranes, without ether linkages, demonstrated improved performance in ion exchange capacity, water uptake, ion conductivity, and thermal stability. The polymer membranes were studied by 1H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, water uptake, ion exchange capacity and ion conductivity. Surface morphologies were assessed by atomic force microscope (AFM). The synthesized polymers may have applications as fuel cell membranes because of their excellent ion conductivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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4098 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonated Poly(Phenylene) Containing a Non-Planar Structure and Dibenzoyl Groups
by Hohyoun Jang, Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Jiho Yoo, Jaeseong Ha, Jaeseung Pyo, Chaekyun Lee, Taewook Ryu and Whangi Kim
Energies 2016, 9(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9020115 - 18 Feb 2016
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5395
Abstract
Polymers for application as sulfonated polyphenylene membranes were prepared by nickel-catalyzed carbon-carbon coupling reaction of bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene (BCD) and 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dibenzoylbenzene (DCBP). Conjugated cis/trans isomer (BCD) had a non-planar conformation containing four peripheral aromatic rings that facilitate the formation of π–π interactions. 1,4-Dichloro-2,5-dibenzoylbenzene was synthesized [...] Read more.
Polymers for application as sulfonated polyphenylene membranes were prepared by nickel-catalyzed carbon-carbon coupling reaction of bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene (BCD) and 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dibenzoylbenzene (DCBP). Conjugated cis/trans isomer (BCD) had a non-planar conformation containing four peripheral aromatic rings that facilitate the formation of π–π interactions. 1,4-Dichloro-2,5-dibenzoylbenzene was synthesized from the oxidation reaction of 2,5-dichloro-p-xylene, followed by Friedel-Crafts reaction with benzene. DCBP monomer had good reactivity in polymerization affecting the activity of benzophenone as an electron-withdrawing group. The polyphenylene was sulfonated using concentrated sulfuric acid. These polymers without any ether linkages on the polymer backbone were protected from nucleophilic attack by hydrogen peroxide, hydroxide anion, and radicals generated by polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operation systems. The mole fraction of the sulfonic acid groups was controlled by varying the mole ratio of bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene in the copolymer. In comparison with Nafion 211® membrane, these SBCDCBP membranes showed ion exchange capacity (IEC) ranging from 1.04 to 2.07 meq./g, water uptake from 36.5% to 69.4%, proton conductivity from 58.7 to 101.9 mS/cm, and high thermal stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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Review

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3576 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress on the Key Materials and Components for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells in Vehicle Applications
by Cheng Wang, Shubo Wang, Linfa Peng, Junliang Zhang, Zhigang Shao, Jun Huang, Chunwen Sun, Minggao Ouyang and Xiangming He
Energies 2016, 9(8), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9080603 - 29 Jul 2016
Cited by 69 | Viewed by 12159
Abstract
Fuel cells are the most clean and efficient power source for vehicles. In particular, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are the most promising candidate for automobile applications due to their rapid start-up and low-temperature operation. Through extensive global research efforts in the [...] Read more.
Fuel cells are the most clean and efficient power source for vehicles. In particular, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are the most promising candidate for automobile applications due to their rapid start-up and low-temperature operation. Through extensive global research efforts in the latest decade, the performance of PEMFCs, including energy efficiency, volumetric and mass power density, and low temperature startup ability, have achieved significant breakthroughs. In 2014, fuel cell powered vehicles were introduced into the market by several prominent vehicle companies. However, the low durability and high cost of PEMFC systems are still the main obstacles for large-scale industrialization of this technology. The key materials and components used in PEMFCs greatly affect their durability and cost. In this review, the technical progress of key materials and components for PEMFCs has been summarized and critically discussed, including topics such as the membrane, catalyst layer, gas diffusion layer, and bipolar plate. The development of high-durability processing technologies is also introduced. Finally, this review is concluded with personal perspectives on the future research directions of this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 2016)
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