Non-PFSA Membranes from Sulfonated Polyphenylene Composites for Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells

eSpin Technologies, Inc., in cooperation with Sandia National Laboratories, will develop and manufacture a new class of non-PFSA ionomers and membranes suitable for application in PEM electrolyzers and/or fuel cells. We believe this technology will not only bring to the market robust and cost-effective hydrogen technology solutions but will also minimize or eliminate PFSA-type materials which are currently used in commercial fuel cells and electrolyzers. There is a growing concern that a large-scale utilization of PFSA-type ionomers may result in increased regulatory barriers due to suspected negative effects of the fluoridecontaining compounds released to the environment during ionomersĺ fabrication as well as during their use. In Phase II, eSpin Technologies, Inc. will first optimize the synthesis of the most conductive, crosslinkable poly(phenylenesulfonic acid) ionomer, identified in Phase I. Then a reinforcing PBI nanofiber scaffold manufacturing will be refined to obtain strong nanoporous webs with porosity of about 75 %. Finally, integration of the ionomer and the scaffold will be carried out via pore-filling to obtain defect-free dense, proton conducting membranes (PEMs). Samples with the best overall characteristics will be combined with commercial electrodes into membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) and their performance will be tested in a hydrogen/air fuel cell and in water electrolyzer. Additionally, selected samples will be delivered to Teledyne Energy Systems and to H2U Technologies for validation. Once the successful PEM prototype is developed and validated, the objective will be the acquisition of funding partners and transforming this SBIR PEM development into a commercial product.