Abstract
Fuel cells are gaining increasing attention as a clean and promising technology for energy conversion. One of the key benefits of fuel cells compared to other methods is the direct energy conversion that enables the achievement of high efficiency. The electrolyte membrane is the most essential parts of a fuel cell unit, and consequently has been the subject of considerable research and development. Among the various types of proton conducting electrolytes examined for fuel cell applications, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) are regarded as viable candidates since they enable operation of the cells at desirably low temperatures. This review describes recent progress in the design and development of high performance proton conducting PEMs, including the analysis of the design requirements and strategies for development of advanced PEMs for operation in anhydrous conditions. Some of the most widely used types of azole heterocycles are introduced and compared, particularly in terms of their performance characteristics in polyacids containing different functional groups. In addition, the latest research studies and progress in the field of azole-containing and azole-functionalized electrolyte systems are discussed and reviewed. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.