MOF-polymer composite membranes to enhance proton conductivity in fuel cells
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Nafion (a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane) is widely used in fuel cells to conduct protons, but Nafion membranes are prone to rapid dehydration at low humidity, which results in a loss of conductivity. To overcome this problem, scientists in China have made a metal-organic framework (MOF) containing protonated tertiary amines as intrinsic proton carriers and hydrogen-bonding chains as proton-conducting pathways. A series of composite membranes with different contents of MOF crystals were prepared by blending MOF submicrorods with a polymer for the exploration of further applications of MOFs in fuel cells under low humidity. The MOFs displayed low-humidity proton conductivity.