Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Devices: Materials, Challenges, and Future Prospects

This volume focuses on the comprehensive discussion of the recent development toward the search for an alternative polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), the associated challenges, and remedies to overcome the underlying practical issues. It critically assesses the merits and demerits of different PEM materials and gives a perspective on where these materials stand with respect to the standard commercial PEM. It covers PEMs, selection of membrane material, structural chemistry aspect, and recent developments of the PEM fuel cells.

Features:

- Provides a complete insight into PEMs for low-temperature fuel cells, emphasizing material selection and performance evaluation.

- Includes a comprehensive overview of the membrane types and the associated mechanism of proton conduction.

- Discusses the characterization of pertinent materials and device performance in detail.

- Reviews thermal and fluid management, transport phenomenon, degradation mechanisms, fouling and pore blocking, and tailor-made materials.

- Contains diagrammatic representation and tabular comparison in support of the discussion for a better understanding of the content.

This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in membrane technology, fuel cells, and chemical engineering.

Kamal K. Kar, Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Chair Professor at IIT-Kanpur, is a leading academician in the area of materials/product development for supercapacitors, batteries, PEM fuel cells, water purifier, MBT-Arjuna, and artificial heart valve. Currently, he is a Professor (HAG) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is associated with the Interdisciplinary Programme in Materials Science and Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases Research Centre, IIT Kanpur.He has more than 325 papers in international refereed journals, 160 conference papers, 11 books, 4 special issues in journals, 8 conference proceedings, 150 book chapters, 60 granted patents, and more than 14000 citations.

Soma Banerjee has been working on the synthesis and characterization of sulfonated and phosphonate polymer composite and nanocomposite PEM for last 15 years. Her area of research mainly focuses on the polymer electrolyte membranes for low temperature fuel cells, polymer composite and nanocomposites, nanomaterials, bipolar plates for fuel cells, wastewater treatment, energy devices, supercapacitor, etc. She has published several research and review articles, book chapters, conference papers, etc. in the field of polymer and polymer nanocomposites for energy generation and storage devices. She is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic Technology, School of Chemical Technology, Harcourt Butler Technical University Kanpur.

Bablu Mordina has 2 years of industrial experience at Kalpana Industries Ltd., Daman on low tension and high-tension flexible cable compounds based on polyvinyl chloride, sioplas, fire retardant sioplas, peroxide cross-linkable polyethylene, etc. He joined Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in the year 2009 and presently working as Senior Scientist in the Nano Science & Coatings Division of Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (D.M.S.R.D.E).He has published several articles, Indian patents, technical reports and book chapter in reputed international journals and publisher’s book and presented invited lecture in several National and International Conferences.