Co(II)tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin additive to PFSA PEMs for improved fuel cell durability

1. An ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications, the ion conducting membrane comprising:

an ion conducting polymer comprising a perfluorocyclobutyl moiety; and

a compound having the following formula:

wherein:

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 are each independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl wherein the substituted alkyl and the substituted aryl have substitutions with halogens or methoxy or ethoxy; and

R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 are each independently hydrogen.

2. The ion conducting membrane of claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , are each phenylmethoxy.

3. An ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications, the ion conducting membrane comprising:

an ion conducting polymer comprising a perfluorocyclobutyl moiety; and

a porphyrin-containing compound having the following formula:

wherein M is Co 2+ , Co 3+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Mg 1+ , Mg 2+ , Mn 1+ , Mn 2+ , Mn 3+ , ClMn 3+ , HOMn 3+ , Cu +1 , Cu 2+ , Ni 1+ , Ni 2+ , Pd 1+ , Pd 2+ , Ru 1+ , Ru 2+ , Ru 4+ , Vn 4+ , Zn 1+ , Zn 2+ , Al 3+ , B, Si(OH) 2 2+ , Al 3+ , HOIn 3+ , HOIn 3+ , Pb 2+ , Ag + , Sn 2+ , Sn 4+ , Ti 3+ , Ti 4+ , VO + , Pt 2+ , Ce 3+ , or Ce 4+ ; and

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 are each independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl wherein the substituted alkyl and the substituted aryl have substitutions with halogens or methoxy or ethoxy; and

R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 are each independently hydrogen.

4. The ion conducting membrane of claim 3 wherein the porphyrin-containing compound is Co(II)tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin.