Wide commercial application of fuel cells has been limited by several technical factors, including membrane material properties. Foster-Miller is developing a low-cost microcomposite proton exchange membrane (PEM) for use in high temperature (>150(C) PEM fuel cells. High temperature operation of PEMFCs is expected to mitigate problems currently impeding development, such as catalyst activity and poisoning, water management, and heat dissipation. 

We are applying know-how in processing liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) to create a microcomposite PEM made by infusing ionically conducting polymer (ICP) into a microporous LCP membrane possessing sufficient mechanical and chemical robustness to enable operation at high temperature.

Recent work done for DOE demonstrated that incorporating the sulfonated aromatic ICP into a microcomposite PEM provided both the mechanical and electrical properties of a PEM, a combination that has eluded developers to date. During this program, the complex ICP chemical synthesis route was developed, the material was tested for fuel cell operation, and microcomposite membranes were fabricated with PBO.

Ongoing work centers on developing PEM processing conditions and on development of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Foster-Miller's PEMs will be much lower cost (projected to be below $80 per sq. meter) than current state-of-the-art perfluorosulfonic acid PEMs and will have much better high temperature characteristics. 

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