Polystyrene based membrane synthesis for polymer electrode membrane fuel cell

POLYSTYRENE BASED MEMBRANE SYNTHESIS FOR POLYMER ELECTRODE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL (M.Sc. Thesis) Ümmühan Aktaş GAZI UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCES July 2005 ABSTRACT Polymer Electrolite Membrane Fuel Cells (PEM) are used to produced electricity. Fuel cells are clean, environment friendly energy conversion technologies with a high efficiency. In a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, membrane separates reduction and oxidation reactions. Membrane provides the reaction to occur uniformly throughout the cell by forming a gas barrier between the anode and cathode and also serves the transportation of protons which form as a result of the decomposition of hydrogen in the anode, from anode to cathode through it. Electrones which are not pass through the membrane, flow through an external path with the aid of an electrical carrier or a motor and create the electrical current when they travel from anode to cathode. In this study, it has been tried to synthesis flexible, homogeneous membranes having high proton conductivity by using polystyrene due to its lower price, more easily availability and ability to withstand the higher temperatures than the customary (Naflon)VI membranes. In this study, membranes produced from the polystyrene by sulfonation, drying and molding methods, and also their properties were investigated by makig characterization analysis. It is expected that fuel cells will have a very wide application areas and will have a very big share especially in automobile industry when to increase their efficiency and decrease their cost objectives are realized. Science Code : 948 Key words : PEMYH, Membrane synthesis,polystyrene based membranes Page Number : 95 Adviser : Doç. Dr. İrfan Ar