A New Generation of Proton Exchange Membrane Substrates
A hydrogen fuel cell is a power generation device that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen
and oxygen directly into electricity.
Its basic principle is to supply hydrogen and oxygen separately to the anode and cathode, where
hydrogen diffuses outwards through the anode and reacts with the electrolyte to release
electrons that pass through an external load to reach the cathode, thereby producing an electric
current.
pollution-free
Hydrogen fuel cells are environmentally friendly.
No noise.
Hydrogen fuel cells operate quietly, with noise levels of around 55dB, which is about the level
of human conversation.
High efficiency
The electricity generation efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell can be over 50%, and its energy
conversion efficiency is 2-3 times that of a gasoline engine.
The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the most critical component of a hydrogen fuel cell. The
MEA, consisting of a proton exchange membrane, a catalyst layer, and a gas diffusion layer, is
equivalent to the heart of a fuel cell and determines the lifespan and performance of a hydrogen
fuel cell.Of these components, the proton exchange membrane's main function is to transmit
protons, separate reaction gases, and electrically insulate. It is responsible for "keeping the
gate," allowing protons to pass through while blocking electrons, hydrogen molecules, and water
molecules. It is an indispensable key material, equivalent to the "chip" of a fuel cell, and its
performance directly affects the stability and durability of the fuel cell.
So far, the proton exchange membrane used for assembling hydrogen fuel cells has been mostly the
perfluorosulfonic acid type (represented by DuPont's products in the United States), but this
type of proton exchange membrane has shown several shortcomings:
1.The production costs are high.
2.The size of the membrane conductance is closely related to its water content, which complicates
the battery water management.
3.The dimensional stability is poor, and the size of the film can change by 10% to 20% in the dry
state and wet state.
It is also these drawbacks that have hindered the further large-scale application of
perfluorosulfonic acid type proton exchange membrane, becoming one of the bottlenecks
restricting the actual industrialization of hydrogen fuel cells.
Composite proton exchange membrane is a new generation of proton exchange membrane, which is made
by combining a fully fluorinated non-ionic microporous medium as the base membrane with a fully
fluorinated ion exchange resin to form a composite proton exchange membrane. This structure
improves the properties of the original membrane and enhances the mechanical strength and
dimensional stability of the membrane.
Meanwhile, the composite proton exchange membrane, which is currently monopolized by the
American Gore Company, has yet to be produced in China that meets the requirements of hydrogen
fuel cells.
Jiamu Company leverages its long-term experience in the research and production of PTFE membranes
to develop proton exchange membrane (PEM) substrates since 2020. Its main technical indicators
have already met the requirements of PEM manufacturers to a large extent. In the near future,
Jiamu Company's PEM substrates will become the first domestic supplier to replace foreign
monopoly on the core component of hydrogen fuel cell - PEM.