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Title: An operationally flexible fuel cell based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs

Abstract

Here, fuel cells are promising devices for clean power generation in a variety of economically and environmentally significant applications. Low-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells utilizing Nafion require a high level of hydration, which limits the operating temperature to less than 100°C. In contrast, high-temperature PEM fuel cells utilizing phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole can operate effectively up to 180°C; however, these devices degrade when exposed to water below 140°C. Here we present a different class of PEM fuel cells based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs that can operate under conditions unattainable with existing fuel cell technologies. These fuel cells exhibit stable performance at 80–160°C with a conductivity decay rate more than three orders of magnitude lower than that of a commercial high-temperature PEM fuel cell. By increasing the operational flexibility, this class of fuel cell can simplify the requirements for heat and water management, and potentially reduce the costs associated with the existing fully functional fuel cell systems.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, Tsukuba (Japan)
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1329902
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-20758
Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nature Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 1; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; Energy Sciences

Citation Formats

Lee, Kwan -Soo, Spendelow, Jacob Schatz, Choe, Yoong -Kee, Fujimoto, Cy, and Kim, Yu Seung. An operationally flexible fuel cell based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1038/nenergy.2016.120.
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Lee, Kwan -Soo, Spendelow, Jacob Schatz, Choe, Yoong -Kee, Fujimoto, Cy, & Kim, Yu Seung. An operationally flexible fuel cell based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.120
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Lee, Kwan -Soo, Spendelow, Jacob Schatz, Choe, Yoong -Kee, Fujimoto, Cy, and Kim, Yu Seung. Mon . "An operationally flexible fuel cell based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.120. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1329902.
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@article{osti_1329902,
title = {An operationally flexible fuel cell based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs},
author = {Lee, Kwan -Soo and Spendelow, Jacob Schatz and Choe, Yoong -Kee and Fujimoto, Cy and Kim, Yu Seung},
abstractNote = {Here, fuel cells are promising devices for clean power generation in a variety of economically and environmentally significant applications. Low-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells utilizing Nafion require a high level of hydration, which limits the operating temperature to less than 100°C. In contrast, high-temperature PEM fuel cells utilizing phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole can operate effectively up to 180°C; however, these devices degrade when exposed to water below 140°C. Here we present a different class of PEM fuel cells based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs that can operate under conditions unattainable with existing fuel cell technologies. These fuel cells exhibit stable performance at 80–160°C with a conductivity decay rate more than three orders of magnitude lower than that of a commercial high-temperature PEM fuel cell. By increasing the operational flexibility, this class of fuel cell can simplify the requirements for heat and water management, and potentially reduce the costs associated with the existing fully functional fuel cell systems.},
doi = {10.1038/nenergy.2016.120},
journal = {Nature Energy},
number = 9,
volume = 1,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.120
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    A Graphene‐Based Coaxial Fibrous Photofuel Cell Powered by Mine Gas
    journal, September 2019

    • Yang, Zhengpeng; Zhu, Meng; Niu, Yutao
    • Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 29, Issue 46
    • DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201906813

    Hydrophilic microporous membranes for selective ion separation and flow-battery energy storage
    journal, December 2019

    Phosphoric acid doped hydrophobic ionic liquid-based composite membranes for anhydrous proton exchange membrane application
    journal, January 2017

    • Lin, Bencai; Qiao, Gang; Chu, Fuqiang
    • RSC Advances, Vol. 7, Issue 2
    • DOI: 10.1039/c6ra25460h

    Intermediate temperature fuel cells via an ion-pair coordinated polymer electrolyte
    journal, January 2018

    • Lee, Kwan-Soo; Maurya, Sandip; Kim, Yu Seung
    • Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 11, Issue 4
    • DOI: 10.1039/c7ee03595k

    Acidic liquid-swollen polymer membranes exhibiting anhydrous proton conductivity higher than 100 mS cm −1 at around 100 °C
    journal, January 2019

    • Kajita, Takato; Tanaka, Haruka; Noro, Atsushi
    • Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 7, Issue 26
    • DOI: 10.1039/c9ta01890e

    Polymer and Composite Membranes for Proton-Conducting, High-Temperature Fuel Cells: A Critical Review
    journal, June 2017

    • Quartarone, Eliana; Angioni, Simone; Mustarelli, Piercarlo
    • Materials, Vol. 10, Issue 7
    • DOI: 10.3390/ma10070687
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