Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Based on Phosphoric Acid-Impregnated Poly(2,5-benzimidazole) Membranes

Preparation and characterization of membranes of poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) (as thin as 20 μm) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are reported. These membranes were prepared by solution casting and then impregnated in phosphoric acid baths. Their characterization included thermogravimetric analyses, conductivity measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. These membranes have high thermal stability and good proton conductivity at temperatures up to 200°C (6.2 × 10^-2 S cm^-1 at 150°C and 30% relative humidity), similar to the well-known commercial polybenzimidazole (PBI). ABPBI membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) using commercially available E-TEK Pt/C electrodes were tested in H₂/O ₂ cells, obtaining power densities similar to those of PBI MEAs studied here as reference at temperatures of up to 180°C, humidifying the reactants at room temperature.