Protonated Phosphonic Acid Electrodes for High Power Heavy-Duty Vehicle Fuel Cells

Fuel cells operating at above 100 °C under anhydrous conditions provide an ideal solution for the heat rejection problem of heavy-duty vehicle applications. Here, we report protonated phosphonic acid electrodes that remarkably improve fuel cell performance. The protonated phosphonic acids are comprised of tetrafluorostyrene phosphonic acid and perfluorosulfonic acid polymers in which a proton of the perfluorosulfonic acid is transferred to the phosphonic acid to enhance the anhydrous proton conduction of fuel cell electrodes. By implementing this material into fuel cell electrodes, we obtained a fuel cell exhibiting a rated power density of 780 milliwatts per square centimeter at 160 °C, with minimal degradation during 2,500 hours of operation, and 700 thermal cycles from 40 to 160 °C under load.

Tuning proton dissociation energy in proton carrier doped 2D covalent organic frameworks for anhydrous proton conduction at elevated temperature

The proton dissociation degrees and dielectric properties of proton carriers doped COFs with neutral, polar, Lewis base and positively charged sites are investigated to get better understanding of structure–conductivity relationship.