Protonated montmorillonite as a highly effective proton-conductivity enhancer in p-PBI membranes for PEM fuel cells

A series of p-PBI phosphoric acid doped membranes, containing high levels of protonated montmorilonite (MMT-H), have been prepared using an easy and efficient procedure. The incorporation of MMT-H results in drastic increase (over 100%) of proton conductivity and mechanical properties, compared to the Celtec (R)-P membrane (commercial product of BASF Fuel Cell GmbH). This phenomenon could be attributed to water and phosphoric acid trapping in the MMT-H channels. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.