Nafion Obstacle to development of new technologies often turns out hard availability of materials with rare qualities that can be available for mass production. But appearance of polymers with similar qualities often helps to decide such an issue and give a chance to development and introduction of hard-to-reach technology. One of such materials is nafion- ion meter of perfluorosulfonate first synthesized by Walther Grot in the late 1960s. This material has a lot of unique qualities the most important of which is proton conductivity used in production of fuel elements. The main function of such a membrane is passage of hydrogen ions and electron retention. A modern fuel element consists of a thin (from 50 micron to 250 micron) nafion film covered with catalytic agents on 2 sides (anodic and cathodic); sheets that are current collectors made of any (various variant are possible) gas-permeable foamed material laying on electricity well are pressed to a catalytic agent. Expressed hydrophobic properties of perfluorinated frame and sulfonate groups contained in a membrane result in self-organization in which transport channels, rich of water and sulfonate groups that are divided with hydrophobic polymer chains, are formed. Such a unique structure provides both high proton conductivity and mechanical reliability for Nafion® membranes. Moreover such membranes are characterized with extremely high chemical resistance (both to hydrolysis and oxidation) compared with teflon and high thermal resistance. Nafion film makes quick appearance of fuel elements possible in the nearest future.

• published: 25 Apr 2012
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