FUEL 15 |
| Proton conducting, thermally and electrochemically robust, heterocycle grafted polysiloxanes have been synthesized via hydrosilylation of vinyl functionalized, weakly basic, heterocyclic motifs with a polymethylhydrosiloxane precursor. The resulting polymers showed proton conductivities up to 2 orders of magnitude higher than previous literature reports. The increases in conductivity are most pronounced at temperatures below 120°C. These materials exhibit less temperature dependence for proton transport than systems based on more basic heterocyclic motifs. Such decrease in temperature dependence is consistent with previous findings suggesting that proton-nitrogen dissociation plays and important role for proton conduction. An extension of this work, using more complex polymer architectures and higher dielectric constant polymeric matrices is currently underway and is expected to yield materials with proton conductivities suitable for membrane electrode assembly fabrication and testing. |
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Fuel Cell Technology: Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Systems
8:25 AM-12:00 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Cambridge Rm, Oral
Division of Fuel Chemistry |