High-temperature inorganic anion exchange membranes based on layered double hydroxides for anion exchange membrane fuel cell applications

Abstract

Anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) have garnered substantial attention over the past two decades due to their numerous advantages, positioning them as promising alternatives to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, their rapid development faces notable challenges, including the limited high-temperature and alkaline stability of anion-exchange membranes due to the incorporation of cationic functional groups, as well as intricate preparation processes. In this study, we propose a high-temperature inorganic anion exchange membrane based on layered double hydroxide doped with K2CO3 prepared by a simple process. This innovative approach optimizes the ionic transport pathway within the LDHs inorganic membrane and enhances water retention performance at elevated temperatures. The maximum cross-plane ionic conductivity of the membrane can reach up to 10−2 S cm−1. Remarkably, the peak power density attains an impressive level of 215.2 mW cm−2 at 110 °C and 200 kPa during the fuel cell testing.