2026-02-09 早稲田大学
図1：本研究で開発したプロトン導電性高分子電解質（SP-PAC12-QP）の合成方法、およびそれと多孔性ポリエチレンを組み合わせた複合膜の写真。茶色透明で均一な薄膜構造が、高プロトン導電率と化学的・機械的安定性の両立を可能にする。
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.waseda.jp/inst/research/news/83464
- https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202520137
過酷な条件下でも動作可能な高性能・耐久性燃料電池のための汎用フッ素フリープロトン交換ポリマー Universal Fluorine-Free Proton Exchange Polymers for High-Performance and Durable Fuel Cells Operable Under Severe Conditions
Fanghua Liu, Kenji Miyatake, Ick Soo Kim, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud, Vikrant Yadav, Fang Xian
Advanced Materials Published: 03 February 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202520137
ABSTRACT
Fluorine-free proton exchange membranes (PEMs) could offer a promising alternative to perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes, addressing challenges such as negative environmental impact, high cost, and limited performance under harsh conditions. However, fluorine-free PEMs inherently suffer from low proton conductivity due to weaker acidity and poorly developed hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase-separation, along with limited mechanical and chemical stability. Here, we report a novel and universal fluorine-free PEMs featuring aliphatic chains in the backbone, which for the first time to dissolve all the issues mentioned, such as 2.6 times higher proton conductivity than PFSAs. Further physical reinforcement (SP-PAC1267-QP-4.5-PE-7) effectively extended their lifetime to 335.1 times of the original SP-PAC1267-QP-3.5, and exceeded 1.3 times of the state-of-the-art fluorinated Nafion XL reinforced membrane, in the severely accelerated durability test. Furthermore, the fluorine-free PEMs exhibited outstanding performance than Nafion XL, especially at elevated temperatures, proving their practical applicability as a promising alternative to the fluorinated counterparts.
