Fluorinated Imidazoles as Proton Carriers for Water-Free Fuel Cell Membranes

We propose an alternative new material (2,4,5-trifluoroimidazole impregnated Nafion) for use as a high-temperature, water-free membrane for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. This material has been tested computationally using molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics techniques, leading to an estimated conductivity of ∼0.06 S/cm at 177 °C. This material overcomes the weakness of the imidazole-impregnated membranes, i.e., the poisoning of the Pt electrode. We find that 2,4,5-trifluoroimidazole binds weakly to platinum surfaces, so poisoning is not expected.