Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Cation-Exchange Membrane (BASF Celtec-P) for High-Temperature Electroyzer and Fuel Cell, CHTEFCCEMPBIBCP

The BASF Celtec®-P series represents a specialized class of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membranes (HT-PEM). Unlike standard Nafion-style membranes that rely on liquid water to conduct protons, Celtec®-P is based on polybenzimidazole (PBI) doped with phosphoric acid (H3PO4). This unique chemistry allows the membrane to operate at temperatures between 120°C and 180°C, fundamentally changing the design and efficiency of electrochemical systems.

The most significant application for Celtec®-P is in stationary and portable fuel cells that run on reformed hydrogen (from methanol, natural gas, or propane). (1) Extreme Carbon Monoxide (CO) Tolerance: At standard temperatures (80°C), even 10 ppm of CO can poison a platinum catalyst. At 160°C, the Celtec®-P membrane allows the catalyst to tolerate up to 3% CO. This eliminates the need for expensive, complex "deep purification" stages in a fuel reformer. (2) Simplified Water Management: Because the membrane conducts protons via phosphoric acid rather than liquid water, there is no need for humidifiers, water pumps, or complex hydration controls. The system can operate in very dry or very cold environments without "flooding" or freezing. (3) Heat Recovery: The high-grade waste heat (160°C+) can be used for space heating or water heating (Combined Heat and Power - CHP), pushing total system efficiency over 80%.

Other applications, such as Methanol Reformer Integration, Electrochemical Hydrogen Compression (EHC), and Steam Electrolysis. 

Part Number	CHTEFCCEMPBIBCP (C-HTEFC-CEM-PBIBCP)
Chemical Structure
Appearance	Brown or Dark Brown
Molecular Weight	>60000 (IV >4.5 dL/g)
Dimension	T 400 um * L 100mm * W 100 mm (Other membrane sizes can be supplied upon request)
Operation Temperature	120–180 °C
Pretreatment Status	Phosphoric acid doped (sol-gel doping) No additional treatment before use
Proton Conductivity	~0.1 S/cm (at 160°C, anhydrous)
Acid Concentration	55 wt% (+/-4 wt%)
Package Grade	1 pcs/pack (beside the standard sheet size of 10 cm*10cm, other sizes, such as 20cm*20cm can also be supplied).

References

(1）K. Likit-anurak, et al., Polybenzimidazole Membranes as Nafion Replacement in Aqueous HCl Electrolyzers, ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2023, 6, 10, 5429–5434. 

(2) Q. Li, et al., PBI-Based Polymer Membranes for High Temperature Fuel Cells – Preparation, Characterization and Fuel Cell Demonstration, Fuel Cells, 2004, 4, 147-159.