Determining the proton transfer mechanism in heteropoly acid mesoporous silica PEMs: Making proton exchange membrane based direct alcohol fuel cells more efficient for real world use

High temperature (>160°C) proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) are solid energy conversion devices that electrochemically convert chemical energy (e.g., from alcohols) into electricity. HT-PEMFCs are more efficient than low temperature PEMFCs due to elimination of carbon monoxide poisoning and enhanced oxidation kinetics. Heteropoly acids (HPAs) such as Phosphotungstic acid (abbreviated as HPW) can be used to functionalize ordered mesoporous silica (abbreviated as MSN) to make nanocomposite PEMs [1]. While these nanocomposites have shown promising early results in HT-PEMFCs, the structure-activity relationship of proton exchange in these functional materials is yet to be established. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and high resolution-Fourier transform infrared (HR-FTIR) studies have shown that HPA functionalized mesoporous silica nanocomposites are similar in structure outside of subtle variations in FTIR spectra according to the inherent functional groups in the material. Further investigation of these phenomena is continuing, with the award of further HR-FTIR beamtime in July 2013. This research is exploring the best performance HPA-MSNs, in relation to composition, structural chemistry and proton diffusion mechanism, with subsequent evaluation of these materials in direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs)."Investigating HPA functionalized mesoporous silica materials for use as high temperature proton exchange membranes" is the title listed in the conference program, however the presentation is titled "Determining the proton transfer mechanism in heteropoly acid mesoporous silica PEMs: Making proton exchange membrane based direct alcohol fuel cells more efficient for real world use