Ion-Exchange Membranes

Overview

Ion-exchange membranes are a critical component in modern electrochemical systems because they regulate ion transport while providing electronic insulation between anode and cathode compartments. This subcategory brings together widely used research membranes such as Dupont Nafion for proton conduction and Fumasep variants for anion, cation, and bipolar operation. These membranes enable stable operation of fuel cells, electrolysers, CO₂ conversion cells, microbial electrochemical systems, redox-flow batteries and diffusion-driven test cells.

Key Features

• Wide selection: PEM (Nafion 115/117/211/212), AEM (Fumasep FAA series), CEM (Fumasep FKS series), and bipolar (FBM-PK).
• Multiple thicknesses (≈15–183 µm) to balance conductivity, mechanical strength and gas crossover.
• Supplied in convenient pre-cut sizes (10 × 10 cm up to 20 × 30 cm) for fast integration in lab-scale MEA or H-cell setups.
• Chemically stable in acidic, alkaline or mixed media depending on membrane type.
• Compatible with ScienceGears fuel-cell/electrolyser fixtures, custom electrochemical cells and commercial potentiostats.
• Suitable for membrane-conditioning, IEC, ASR and permeability studies.
  
  

Applications

• PEM fuel cells and PEM water electrolysis using Nafion membranes.
• Alkaline or CO₂ electroreduction cells using Fumasep anion-exchange membranes.
• Electrodialysis, ion separation and redox-flow battery tests using cation-exchange membranes.
• pH-gradient or two-step processes using bipolar membranes.
• Membrane screening and durability studies in university and industrial labs.
  
  

Integration & Compatibility

These membranes can be installed in any MEA test cells including ScienceGears' MEA cells, zinc-air or CO₂RR cells, as well as custom flow cells. They operate seamlessly with Zahner, Squidstat, Corrtest and other potentiostats, allowing researchers to run EIS, polarisation, crossover or stability measurements on the same platform.

Why Choose ScienceGears

ScienceGears supports Australian and New Zealand researchers with locally held stock, technical guidance on membrane selection, and access to complementary hardware such as gas-diffusion electrodes, MEA fixtures, tubing and fittings. This reduces lead time and ensures the membrane chosen matches the chemistry of the experiment.

Keywords

• ion-exchange membranes; Nafion PEM; Fumasep AEM and CEM; fuel cell membranes; electrolysis accessories Australia.
  
  

FAQ Section

Q1. What is an ion-exchange membrane in electrochemistry?
An ion-exchange membrane is a polymer film that selectively conducts specific ions (H⁺, OH⁻, or other cations) while blocking electrons and most gases. This separation allows electrochemical cells to run different chemistries in the anode and cathode compartments without mixing.

Q2. How do I choose between Nafion and Fumasep membranes?
Choose Nafion when you are operating in acidic media or building a PEM fuel cell / PEM electrolyser that requires high proton conductivity. Choose Fumasep FAA for alkaline or CO₂RR cells needing OH⁻ transport. Use Fumasep FKS where cation transport is required, for example in electrodialysis or redox-flow testing.

Q3. Are these membranes supplied pre-cut?
Yes. ScienceGears offers common research sizes (10 × 10 cm, 15 × 15 cm, 20 × 20 cm, 30 × 30.5 cm), which align with typical laboratory MEA or cell dimensions. This reduces wastage and makes ordering simpler when trialling several membrane types.

Q4. Do I need to pre-treat or activate the membrane?
Most membranes benefit from a standard pre-treatment or hydration step (acid boil for Nafion, alkaline conditioning for some AEMs) to reach their specified conductivity. The exact procedure depends on the membrane chemistry and the operating electrolyte.

Q5. Can these membranes be used with ScienceGears electrochemical cells?
Yes. The membranes listed here are selected to match ScienceGears fuel-cell / electrolyser fixtures and other electrochemical accessories, so researchers in Australia and New Zealand can build a complete test setup from a single supplier.

Summary 
Ion-exchange membranes are the enabling layer that makes modern fuel cells, electrolysers and ion-separation cells possible. By sourcing Nafion and Fumasep membranes through ScienceGears in Australia and New Zealand, laboratories gain reliable availability, application-matched sizing, and technical advice to integrate the membrane with existing potentiostats and test hardware.