Hydrogen Economy and Polymer Membranes

Summary: Hydrogen can be separated from its mixtures using polymer foams with closed cells. Each cell serves as a gas container which is filled through its walls – separation membranes. Foam, as a manifold membrane system, utilizes transient states of permeation and thus takes advantage of fastest diffusion of hydrogen. Large scale manufactured polystyrene foams were chosen to demonstrate the phenomenon. Novel proton conducting membranes containing ionic liquids are being developed. They can perform in intermediate-temperature fuel cells (FC).