Development and Evaluation of Perfluorinated Electrolytes: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-16-610

Novel fluoropolymer-based anion-exchange membranes as well as membrane-electrode-assembly comprising such polymers/membranes will be examined for use in fuel cells and/or regenerative electrolyzers. Specifically, novel perfluorinated polymers will be evaluated and optimized for performance and durability in alkaline membrane fuel cells (AMFCs). MEG Inc. will be responsible for providing novel perfluorinated membranes to NREL for evaluation in AMFCs. MEG Inc. will focus initially on imidazolium tethered functional groups and later provide materials based on proton/lithium cage structures. NREL will fabricate the supplied membranes into membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), using a variety of ionomers and/or catalysts, and test the resulting MEAs for performance and durability. These results will be compared to similar results obtained either with commercial materials or NREL's own perfluorinated materials. NREL also plans to perform ex-situ tests on membranes to determine conductivity and durability under ex-situ conditions that mimic or accelerate the conditions that occur within AMFCs.