What is it about?
Fuel cell membranes are used in cars that use hydrogen gas. During the reduction of oxygen, hydrogen peroxide is formed. Because of that these membranes deteriorate over time. Our research showed that a particular part of the membrane is oxidized. We used tetraoxidosulfate(.-) as a selective, strong oxidant and an oligomer that is a building block of the membrane to study the mechanism of the damage.
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Why is it important?
Damage of the fuel cell membrane requires its replacement. It is therefore worthwile to investigate the mechanism of the damage. When that is known, changes to the structure of the membrane will make it last longer.
Perspectives
In the future, we hope to incorporate a catalyst that removes hydrogen peroxide.
Professor Willem H. Koppenol
Swiss Federal Insitute of Technology (ETH)
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This page is a summary of: Reaction of SO4˙− with an oligomer of poly(sodium styrene sulfonate). Probing the mechanism of damage to fuel cell membranes, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, January 2011, Royal Society of Chemistry,
DOI: 10.1039/c1cp20499h.
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