Membrane materials are of fundamental importance for fuel cells. So significant, in fact, that they typically give their name to the fuel cell, as is the case for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, with IDTechEx forecasting the market for ion-exchange membranes in PEM fuel cells to be worth over USD$1.1 billion by 2033. Typically, the material of choice for PEMs is an ionically conducting polymer known as an ionomer. These ionomers are one of a family of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and concerns are mounting regarding PFAS, with alternative materials beginning to emerge.
The new IDTechEx report, “Materials for PEM Fuel Cells 2023-2033”, gives a detailed technical overview of membranes and other key components for PEM fuel cells, an analysis of the major players, and also includes granular 10-year market forecasts for key fuel cell components and materials in terms of both units and volume. IDTechEx has also extensively covered the electric vehicle industry and forecasts demand for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in “Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles 2022-2042”.
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An exploded schematic of a PEM Fuel Cell, highlighting the central role played by the membrane. The PEM enables the functionality of the fuel cell by transporting protons from one side of the cell to the other while keeping the different fuels separated. In the report, IDTechEx provides extensive benchmarking of the market leader against competing ionomer materials for three of the most critical parameters for PEMs; electrical resistance, ion exchange capacity (IEC), and membrane thickness. Despite transporting protons, it is imperative that the membrane has high electrical resistance to avoid short-circuiting the cell, while the combination of high IEC and thin membrane increases the fuel cell performance by enabling rapid proton transport.
Although dominant, ionomers are a PFAS-containing material and are subject to many of the concerns relating to PFASs. PFASs are considered “forever chemicals” due to the strength of the fluorine-carbon bond, with several health risks associated with accumulation in the human body, such as liver damage, kidney cancer, and reduced response to vaccines.
SOURCE: PR Newswire