Polymer membranes for fuel cells: manufacture, structure, modification, properties

The state of the art in the field of synthesis, structural modification and practical use of polymer membranes for fuel cells is analyzed. Synthetic methods, physicochemical characteristics and specific features of their composition, microphase separation and the structure of water ionic channels are considered for different types of proton-conducting materials together with the approaches to enhancement of their operational characteristics. Attention is focused on Nafion and other fluorinated polymers as the materials that occupy the leading position as regards the design level and the broad use in small sized fuel cells. The newest developments in the field of alternative non-fluorinated membrane materials are also discussed, particularly, polycondensation polymer systems and hybrid organic-inorganic polymers.