Wasserfreie Polymere mit hoher Protonenleitfähigkeit für den Einsatz in Brennstoffzellen oberhalb von 100°C

• Applicant: Dr. Wolfgang H. Meyer
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 1998 to 2004
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5115854

This project aims at proton conducting membranes based on polymers for fuel cells operating at temperatures above 100°C. In the membranes, the proton conduction is intended to be exclusively based on proton exchange processes between immobilized molecules which act as "proton solvents", a Grotthus type mechanism. This conception is new for organic polymer based proton conductors. We have already demonstrated such a Grotthus mechanism to be very efficient in modell systems with immobilized imidazole as proton solvent. Another important result of our investigations is the necessity to immobilize the proton solvent via flexible spacers to allow for sufficient local mobility for the (re)arrangement of H-bonds between the proton solvents. The proton solvents may either be bound to a polymer backbone or to the surface of nanoparticles. Both research lines will be followed: Membrane forming materials based on polymers, nanoparticles or their blends with imidazole as immobilized proton solvent will be investigated. Their properties, especially their mechanical, thermal and electrochemical stability will be adjusted to make these membranes applicable in real fuel cell systems.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1060: Neuartige Schichtstrukturen für Brennstoffzellen