Fuel cells offer an efficient, low-emission, and power-dense way to convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen into electrical power. This property has the potential to make them an important building block in the decarbonization of society. However, the technology also faces challenges: In addition to continued high production costs and the limited availability of green hydrogen, the ionomers (proton-conducting plastics) used in membrane and electrode pose a problem. Ionomers used in fuel cells manufactured using current state-of-the-art technology belong to the substance class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which have come under heavy criticism in recent years due to their high persistence and negative impacts on humans and nature.
This master thesis aims to process novel PFAS-free ionomers produced at HI ERN into membranes and optimize them for use in hydrogen fuel cells. The aim is to use additives to produce composite membranes with improved properties such as higher mechanical/chemical stability, higher conductivity at low gas humidification, or lower gas permeability.
