PROPERTY CHANGES OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANES WITH FREEZE/THAW CYCLES

동결/해동 조건에서 고분자막의 특성 변화 연구

Water management in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs) is one of the most challenging issues. Freeze start-up in the automotive applications is also important research topic in the PEMFC field. Transportation of proton and separation of reactant gases are main roles of polymer electrolyte membranes. It has been known that water in the membrane conducts as a vehicle for the proton transportation. At sub-zero temperature, the frozen water blocks the access of reactant gases to the active sites of electrode as well as occurs the physical destruction of fuel cell structures. In this study, property changes of electrolyte membranes in the freeze conditions $(at\;-25^{\circ}C)$ were investigated. For the various amount of water contained membranes, the property changes, especially for the proton conductivity, were observed after several times of freeze/thaw$(-25\~80^{\circ}C)$ cycle.