Progress of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A review

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) serve as a clean and efficient way to utilize hydrogen energy, addressing resource scarcity and environmental pollution. This review discusses the advancements in the application of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS) in fuel cell proton exchange membranes. The use of POSS has enhanced the mechanical properties and proton conductivity of membranes, significantly improving their overall performance. Key findings include the reduction of methanol crossover and increased thermal stability in Nafion® membranes modified with POSS, which extends their operational temperature range. Additionally, modifications in PA-PBI membranes have notably decreased membrane swelling, thereby enhancing proton conductivity. When incorporated into other sulfonated aromatic polymer modifications, POSS also enhances the water retention capacity, therefore significantly increasing the proton conductivity of the composite membrane. These enhancements underscore the potential of POSS in advancing fuel cell performance, contributing to the development of clean energy technology. © 2024 The Institution of Chemical Engineers.