Influence of Operations of MF-4SC Membrane In Situ Modification with Zirconium Hydrogen Phosphate on Its Transport Properties and PEMFC Characteristics

This work is aimed at studying the characteristics of a homogeneous perfluorinated membrane at various stages of introducing zirconium hydrogen phosphate (ZrHP) in situ. A sample modified with ZrHP by pore-filling method, a sample processed the same as the first one, excluding treating with ZrHP precursor solution, and a sample of initial membrane are studied. A significant increase in the diffusion permeability and specific conductivity of the membrane in the solutions of hydrochloric acid after its treatment with heated immersion solutions is observed. This effect reduces after ZrHP nanoparticles appearance. The transport-structural parameters of the microheterogeneous model have been calculated. Both the internal equilibrium solution volume and the mobility of coions and counterions in the gel phase increase after treating with immersion solutions, due to greater swelling of the gel phase in alcohols. The specific power density of the PEMFC MEA with the ZrHP-modified membrane used as a polymeric electrolyte is significantly lower compared to the initial membrane, but annealing the membrane compensates this effect.