Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The dielectric and electrical behaviors of a NafionTM membrane, a NafionTM/7SiO2-2P2O5-ZrO2 gel composite, and a NafionTM/ZrP particle composite were investigated using ac impedance spectroscopy at different relative humidities and temperatures. Only NafionTM/7SiO2-2P2O5-ZrO2 showed a slightly higher conductivity than NafionTM at high temperature. For NafionTM/ZrP, proton mobility was significantly lower, particularly at high relative humidity. The results suggest that improvement in fuel cell performance, previously measured on composite membranes, does not merely result from increased hydrophilic properties.