Fabrication of Support Tubular Proton Exchange Membrane For Fuel Cell

The support tubular proton exchange membranes (STPEMs) were fabricated successfully by impregnating porous silica pipe into a solution of perfluorinated resin. The structures of the inner, outer, and cross section of support PEM tube were characterized intensively by scanning electron microscopy observation. In addition, the conductivity and impermeability were measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the bubble method, respectively. Results show that the conductivity of the PEM can reach as low as $1.46S∕m$ when using the silica pipe of $0.7mm$ wall thickness. Subsequently, the ST membrane electrode assembly for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications was prepared first by loading $Pt∕C$ and $Pt–Ru∕C$ catalyst ink onto the outer and inner surfaces of the PEM tube, respectively. The performances of the tubular DMFC and the PEMFC were tested on a self-made apparatus, which shows that the power density of tubular DMFC can reach $10mWcm−2$ when $4molL−1$ methanol solution flows through the anode at $80°C$⁠, and that the power density of tubular PEMFC can reach up to $60mWcm−2$ when hydrogen flows at the rates of $20mlmin−1$ through the anode at $60°C$⁠, both the cathodes adopting air-breathing mode.