Surface modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and Nafion nanocomposite membranes for use in fuel cell applications

The preparation and characterization of the nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membranes, based on Nafion, sulfonated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT‐SO₃H) and imidazole modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT‐Im), for direct methanol fuel cell applications is described. The results showed that the modification of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with proton‐conducting groups (sulfonic acid groups or imidazole groups) could enhance the proton conductivity of the nanocomposite membranes in comparison to Nafion 117. Regarding the interactions between the protonated imidazole groups, grafted on the surface of MWCNT, and the negatively charged sulfonic acid groups of Nafion, new electrostatic interactions can be formed in the interface of the Nafion and MWCNT‐Im, which result in both lower methanol permeability and higher proton conductivity. The physical characteristics of these manufactured nanocomposite membranes were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water uptake, methanol permeability, and ion exchange capacity, as well as proton conductivity. The Nafion/MWCNT‐Im membranes showed the higher proton conductivity, lower methanol permeability, and, as a consequence, a higher selectivity parameter in comparison to the neat Nafion or Nafion membrane containing MWCNT‐SO₃H or ─OH functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT‐OH) membranes. The obtained results indicated that the Nafion/MWCNT‐Im membranes could be used as efficient polyelectrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cell applications.     

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-modified nafion membrane for direct methanol fuel cells

Membranes Nafion 117 are modified with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) by chemical polymerization of EDT with H₂O₂ or FeCl₃ as the oxidants in a two-compartment cell. Depending on the oxidant and polymerization conditions, PEDT is deposited either as a thin film on the membrane surface or inside the Nafion membrane depending on whether FeCl₃ or H₂O₂ is used as the oxidant. The decrease in the ionic conductivity and methanol permeability is studied as a function of the polymerization time. A linear dependence is found with H₂O₂ and a t ^−1/2 dependence, with FeCl₃. The contributions of PEDT and Nafion to the overall conductivity of the composite membranes are separated by impedance measurements. The modified membranes (FeCl₃) are also tested in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The methanol permeation through the membranes is measured by operating the fuel cell in an electrolysis mode. The influence of the modified membranes on the DMFC current-voltage characteristics is studied with 2 M CH₃OH and O₂ at 1.2 bar_abs and 80°C. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are prepared by hot pressing the modified membrane between two commercial gas diffusion electrodes with 1 mg cm⁻² of Pt loading. A decrease of the methanol permeation of 25% is observed at MEA with the modified membrane (1 h polymerization time), compared with that of MEA with a Nafion membrane. However, the overall DMFC performance decreases in the same relation: a maximal power density of 36 W cm⁻² is measured at MEA with a PEDT-modified membrane compared with 45 W cm⁻² for MEA with a Nafion membrane. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2006, Vol. 42, No. 11, pp. 1330–1339. Based on the report delivered at the 8th International Frumkin Symposium “Kinetics of the Electrode Processes,” October 18–22, 2005, Moscow. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Characterization of PVdF-HFP/Nafion/AlO[OH]n composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)

Poly-(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP)/Nafion ionomer/aluminum oxy hydroxide nanocomposite membranes were prepared by phase inversion technique. The resultant membranes were subjected to protonic conductivity, methanol permeability, infra-red and thermogravimmetric analysis. The infra-red spectroscopic measurements revealed the presence of sulfonic acid groups in the composite membranes. The thermal stability and ionic conductivity of the polymer membranes have been greatly varied upon the addition of AlO[OH]_n. Although the PVDF-HFP/Nafion/AlO[OH]_n composite membranes have moderate protonic conductivity it has lower methanol permeability and may be considered as a candidate for DMFC applications.     

直接甲醇燃料电池中的膜性能比较

制备了磺化聚醚醚酮(SPEEK)和磺化酚酞型聚醚砜(SPES-C)两种质子交换膜,考察了其质子导电和阻醇性能.实验发现,两种新型质子交换膜具有一定的化学稳定性和质子电导率,尤其在高温下两种新膜的质子电导率与Nafion膜接近.两种新膜的甲醇透过系数要比Nafion膜的低1～2个数量级.分别以两种新型膜和Nafion115膜为电解质制备了直接甲醇燃料电池膜电极,讨论了膜材料的性能对直接甲醇燃料电池性能的影响.结果表明,膜材料的阻醇性越好,电池的开路电压越高;膜的电导率越高,在较高电流密度区域内电池的性能越好.     

Nafion–polyfurfuryl alcohol nanocomposite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

Commercial Nafion 115 membranes were successfully modified by in situ acid-catalyzed polymerization of furfuryl alcohol (PFA) within Nafion structures. FT-IR and AFM were used to characterize the chemical and morphological structures of the Nafion–PFA nanocomposite membrane obtained. The methanol permeation experiments showed that the methanol flux through the Nafion–PFA nanocomposite membranes dropped by a factor of 2.2–2.7 when PFA loading was 3.9–8.0 wt.%. Importantly, the proton conductivity of the membranes decreased only slightly at a low PFA loading (<8 wt.%). The nanocomposite membranes with higher selectivity (e.g., proton conductivity/methanol crossover) achieved a much higher DMFC performance at both room temperature and 60 °C.     

Organically modified montmorillonite and chitosan–phosphotungstic acid complex nanocomposites as high performance membranes for fuel cell applications

Nanocomposite membranes based on polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of chitosan/phosphotungstic acid (PWA) and different types of montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared as alternative membranes to Nafion for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed an electrostatically fixed PWA within the PEC membranes, which avoids a decrease in proton conductivity at practical condition. Various amounts of pristine as well as organically modified MMT (OMMT) (MMT: Cloisite Na, OMMT: Cloisite 15A, and Cloisite 30B) were introduced to the PEC membranes to decrease in methanol permeability and, thus, enhance efficiency and power density of the cells. X-ray diffraction patterns of the nanocomposite membranes proved that MMT (or OMMT) layers were exfoliated in the membranes at loading weights of lower than 3 wt.%. Moreover, the proton conductivity and the methanol permeability as well as the water uptake behavior of the manufactured nanocomposite membranes were studied. According to the selectivity parameter, ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability, the PEC/2 wt.% MMT 30B was identified as the optimum composition. The DMFC performance tests were carried out at 70 °C and 5 M methanol feed and the optimum membrane showed higher maximum power density as well as acceptable durability compared to Nafion 117. The obtained results indicated that owing to the relatively high selectivity and power density, the optimum nanocomposite membrane could be considered as a promising polyelectrolyte membrane (PEM) for DMFC applications.     

Nanocomposite fuel cell membranes based on Nafion and acid functionalized zeolite beta nanocrystals

We have prepared nanocomposite proton exchange membranes (PEMs) based on Nafion with sulfonic acid functionalized zeolite beta (AFB) as an additive. 2.5 and 5 wt% AFB composite membranes possess proton conductivity/methanol permeability (selectivity) ratios as much as 93% higher than commercial Nafion 117 at 21 °C, and 63% higher at 80 °C. These 2.5 and 5 wt% AFB composite membranes also outperform commercial Nafion 117 in direct methanol fuel cell performance evaluations. The composite membranes are characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, four-electrode impedance for proton conductivity, two-compartment permeation for methanol crossover, and direct methanol fuel cell performance.     

Transport properties of Nafion membranes modified with tetrapropylammonium ions for direct methanol fuel cell application

This work presents a study of transport properties (proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and water uptake) and acid-base properties of commercial Nafion-112, -115, and -117 membranes modified with tetrapropylammonium (TPA) cations. In the interaction between TPA hydroxide and protons of sulfonate groups in the Nafion matrix, some of the protons are shown to be bound to sulfonate groups and do not participate in transport processes. These findings are confirmed by IR spectroscopy, acid-base titration, and data on proton conductivity of the modified membranes. Proton conductivity of the modified membranes is shown to be effectively described by a percolation model with parameters that agree with published data for commercial Nafion membranes. Based on these results, a model is proposed for the interaction of TPA cations with the sulfonate groups in Nafion membranes. According to this model, TPA cations form hydrophobic clusters in hydrophilic regions of the polymer matrix, thus preventing some of the protonated sulfonate groups from participating in transport processes.     

Self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayered films on Nafion with lowered methanol cross-over for DMFC applications

The paper is concerned with the deposition of self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer on Nafion membrane by layer-by-layer (LbL) technique with lowered methanol cross-over for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. The formation of self-assembled multilayered film on Nafion was characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy and it was found that the polyelectrolyte layers growth on the Nafion surface regularly. Furthermore, the proton conductivity and methanol cross-over measurements were carried out for characterization of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes. The results showed that the concentration and pH of the polyelectrolytes significantly affect the proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties of the composite membranes. 10⁻¹ monomol polyelectrolyte concentration and pH 1.8 was found to be optimum deposition conditions considering proton conductivity and methanol permeation properties of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes. The methanol permeability of the 10 bi-layers of PAH1.8/PSS1.8 deposited LbL self-assembly composite membrane was significantly suppressed and found to be 4.41 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s while the proton conductivity value is in acceptable range for fuel cell applications.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/polyaniline composite proton-exchange membrane

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) was prepared by sulfonation of commercial Victrex^@ PEEK and degree of sulfonation was found to be about 44.5% by ¹H NMR. Sulfonated PEEK/polyaniline composite membranes, in order to prevent methanol crossover, were prepared by chemical polymerization of a thin layer of polyaniline (PANI) in the presence of a high oxidant concentration on a single face modification. FTIR and PANI coating density studies confirmed the loading of PANI in sulfonated PEEK membrane matrix. PANI composite membranes with different polymerization time were prepared and subjected to thermogravimetric analysis as well as electrochemical and methanol permeability study to compare with sulfonated PEEK and Nafion 117 membrane. Ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, proton transport numbers and proton conductivities for different PANI composite sulfonated PEEK (SPEEK) membranes were found to be dependent on the coating density of the PANI in the membrane matrix and were slightly lower than that of Nafion 117 membrane. Methanol permeability of these membranes (especially SPEEK/PANI-1.5) was about four times lower than Nafion 117 membrane. Among the all SPEEK membranes synthesized in this study, SPEEK-1.5 appears to be more suitable for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) application considering optimum physicochemical and electrochemical properties, thermal stability as well as very low methanol permeability. Above all, the cost-effective and simple fabrication technique involved in the synthesis of such composite membranes makes their applicability quite attractive.     

DMFC用PES/SPEEK共混阻醇质子交换膜

将磺化聚醚醚酮(SPEEK, 磺化度DS为68.3%)和聚醚砜(PES)两种聚合物共混制得PES/SPEEK共混膜. DSC研究表明两种聚合物之间具有较好的相容性, 因而共混膜均匀致密, 未发生大尺度相分离. PES的混入能有效降低膜的溶胀度及甲醇透过系数. 纯SPEEK 膜40 ℃时在1 mol•L−1甲醇水溶液中溶胀度达到160%, 45 ℃时就完全溶解, 而含30%(w)PES的共混膜在80 ℃时的溶胀度仅有15%. 室温下含20%−30%(w)PES的共混膜的甲醇透过系数为1×10−7 cm2•s−1左右, 比Nafion 115膜的透过系数小一个数量级. 尽管80 ℃下30%(w)PES/SPEEK共混膜的电导率与Nafion 115膜相当, 但由于共混膜的厚度比Nafion 115膜小1/3左右, 膜电阻较小, 因而其电池性能比Nafion 115膜的好.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) acid–base polymer blends for direct methanol fuel cell application

Acid–base polymer blends for polymer electrolyte membranes have been prepared by blending sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) to reduce methanol uptake and to decrease methanol permeability while maintaining high proton conductivity. The acid‐base interaction occurring on the sulfonic acid group and on the tertiary amide group was characterized by FTIR and DMA. As the composition of PVP lowered than 20 wt % in the blends, the acid–base interaction causes great reduction on methanol uptake and the methanol permeability; however, the proton conductivity is still high. In this work, membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs) have been prepared for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) from both blend membrane and Nafion 117. DMFC single cell performance was also evaluated. Results confirmed that SPEEK (with the degree of sulfonation (DS) = 69%) blended with PVP (M_n = 1,300,000) with a ratio of 80/20 (w/w) exhibits higher open‐circuit voltages (OCV) and lower polarization loss than those of Nafion 117. These acid–base blends will be suitable for DMFC application. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 565–572, 2006     

Blend membranes of Nafion/sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) for direct methanol fuel cell

Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) (sPAEK) synthesized by LG Chem. was confirmed by FT-IR. To estimate the thermal stability, glass transition temperature and decomposition temperature were investigated. They showed that sPAEK had good thermal properties. The proton conductivity, methanol permeability and water uptake of sPAEK were also measured. Nafion/sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) composite membranes were prepared by blending two materials. The blend ratios of sPAEK and Nafion were 2:1, 3:1, 5:1, and 7:1. The blend membranes showed phase separated morphology since they became immiscible during the solvent evaporation process. Due to the differences in specific gravity and solvent concentration profile during the solvent evaporation process, the upper region had lower Nafion volume fraction with smaller domains and the lower region had higher Nafion volume fraction with larger domains. Mechanical properties such as the stress at break, yield stress, Young's modulus, and elongation at break were measured. The sPAEK had better mechanical properties than Nafion. The mechanical properties increased with increasing sPAEK content. Proton conductivity and methanol permeability of the blend membranes were lower than those of Nafion. Both decreased with decreasing Nafion content. Since the methanol permeability of sPAEK was lower than that of Nafion, sPAEK acted as the methanol barrier. Water uptake of sPAEK was higher than that of Nafion.     

侧链磺化聚芳醚质子交换膜的研究进展

燃料电池是以氢气、甲醇等作为燃料的一种新型能量转化装置,其中质子交换膜燃料电池（Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, PEMFC）凭借其能量功率高、启动速度快和使用寿命长等优点已经在移动电源、潜艇和电动汽车等领域得到了广泛应用。质子交换膜（Proton Exchange Membrane, PEM）对PEMFC的性能影响最大,高效的PEMFC需要PEM具有高的质子电导率、良好的热稳定性和机械性能、低燃料渗透率以及优异的物理化学稳定性等。目前市面上多数使用的均是具有优异质子电导率的Nafion系列膜,但其存在制备困难、成本昂贵、质子电导率严重依赖湿度等缺点,在一定程度上限制了其发展。为了让PEM有更多的选择,科学家一直专注于使用新材料替代Nafion膜。近年来,科学家们模拟Nafion结构,通过合成各种侧链含磺酸基团的聚芳醚结构,使得亲水基团磺酸基和疏水基团之间形成微相分离结构,从而获得了一系列具有优异综合性能的PEM。本文将重点对侧链烷基磺化型、侧链磺化嵌段型、侧链局部密集磺化型、侧链磺化交联型和侧链磺化复合型这几种常见策略的合成方法及性能进行了综述,最后展望了侧链磺化聚芳醚在PEM领域的优势及发展前景。     

Novel proton-conductive nanochannel membranes with modified SiO2 nanospheres for direct methanol fuel cells

A novel approach is proposed to prepare a proton-conductive nanochannel membrane based on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) porous membrane with modified SiO₂ nanospheres. The hydrophilic PVDF porous membrane with a 450-nm inner pore size was chosen as the supporting structure. Pristine SiO₂ with a uniform particle size of 95–110 nm was synthesized and functionalized with –NH₂ and –COOH, respectively. Through-plane channels of porous membrane and arranged functional nanoparticles in pores could contribute to constituting efficient proton transfer channels. The characteristics such as morphology, thermal stability, water uptake, dimensional swelling, proton conductivity and methanol permeability as proton exchange membranes, of the SiO₂ nanospheres, and the composite membrane were investigated. The formation of ionic channels in membrane enhanced the water uptakes and proton conduction abilities of the composite membranes. PVDF/Nafion/SiO₂–NH₂ exhibited superior proton conductivities (0.21 S cm^?1) over other samples due to several proton sites and the acid–base pairs formed between –NH₂ and –SO₃H. Furthermore, all the composite membranes exhibited improved methanol resistance compared with Nafion. Therefore, such a design based on porous membrane provided feasibility for high-performance proton exchange membrane in fuel cell applications.     

聚偏氟乙烯-Nafion共混膜的制备及阻醇质子导电性能研究

直接甲醇燃料电池 (Ｄｉｒｅｃｔｍｅｔｈａｎｏｌｆｕｅｌｃｅｌｌ,ＭＤＦＣ)以高效、清洁和燃料储运方便等优点成为一类极具发展潜力的新型动力源 .但目前ＤＭＦＣ中普通使用的全氟磺酸膜 (如ＮａｆｉｏｎＴＭ 系列膜 )阻醇性能太差 ,导致大量甲醇从阳极穿过膜直接透到阴极 ,造成燃料的浪费和电池整体性能的下降 .据文献报道 ,即使甲醇浓度低到 1ｍｏｌ Ｌ ,也有近40 %的醇透过膜 .缺乏高性能的阻醇质子导电聚合物电解质膜是制约ＤＭＦＣ发展的瓶颈之一 .已有一些研究人员致力于新型膜材料的开发 ,如有人研制了聚苯并咪唑膜[1] 及各种掺杂…     

磺化酚酞型聚醚砜膜的制备及其阻醇和质子导电性能

直接甲醇燃料电池 (Directmethanolfuelcell,DMFC)以高效、清洁和燃料储运方便等优点适宜于作为各种用途的可移动动力源 ,成为 2 0世纪 90年代以来研究与开发的热点[1,2 ] .目前 ,这种电池的研究难点主要集中在催化剂不稳定和质子交换膜透醇上 .一张好的DMFC膜不但要可传递质子、绝缘电子 ,还应具有良好的阻醇性能 .如果膜的阻醇性能不好 ,甲醇会穿过膜到达阴极 ,与氧直接反应而不产生电流 ,不但造成燃料的浪费 ,同时也影响阴极的正常反应 ,使电池效率下降[3 ] .目前广泛应用于燃料电池中的Nafion 系列膜是由美国DuPont公司生产的一种…     

Proton‐conductive polymer nanocomposite membranes prepared from telechelic fluorinated polymers containing perfluorosulfonic acid side chains

New classes of fluorinated polymer–polysilsesquioxane nanocomposites have been designed and synthesized. The synthesis method includes radical polymerization using the functional benzoyl peroxide initiator for the telechelic fluorinated polymers with perfluorosulfonic acids in the side chains and a subsequent in situ sol–gel condensation of the prepared triethoxylsilane‐terminated fluorinated polymers with oxide precursors. The telechelic polymer and nanocomposites have been carefully characterized by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR, FTIR, TGA, and TEM. The ion‐exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, the state of the absorbed water, and transport properties of the composite membranes have been extensively studied as a function of the content and structure of the fillers. Unlike the conventional Nafion/silica composites, the proton conductivity of the prepared membranes increases steadily with the addition of small amounts of the polysilsesquioxane fillers. In particular, the sulfopropylated polysilsesquioxane‐based nanocomposites display proton conductivities greater than Nafion. This is attributed to the presence of pendant sulfonic acids in the fillers, which increases IEC and offers continuous proton transport channels between the fillers and the polymer matrix. The methanol permeability of the prepared membranes has also been examined. Lower methanol permeability and higher electrochemical selectivity than those of Nafion have been demonstrated in the polysilsesquioxane‐based nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

含杂萘联苯结构聚合物膜的直接甲醇燃料电池性能

质子交换膜是直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)的关键组成部分. 通过磺化制备了磺化杂萘联苯聚醚酮(SPPEK)、磺化杂萘联苯聚醚砜(SPPES)和磺化杂萘联苯聚醚砜酮(SPPESK)三种含杂萘联苯结构的新质子交换膜, 测试了其热稳定性、质子导电性和甲醇透过性能. SPPESK的热分解温度比相近离子交换容量(IEC)的SPPEK和SPPES约低100 ℃, 三种膜均具有良好的导电和阻醇性能; 分别以三种膜为电解质组装DMFC考察了其性能, DMFC的开路电压随膜的阻醇性的提高而增大, 三种膜的开路电压均高于Nafion115膜, 但在较高电流密度的区域三种新膜的性能均比Nafion115膜差.     

Ion transfer asymmetry in Nafion membranes with gradient distribution of acid salts of heteropoly acids

We describe the effect caused by the modification of Nafion membranes with nanoparticles of rubidium and cesium acid salts of phosphotungstic and silicotungstic heteropoly acids (HPAs) using layer-by-layer casting on the properties of the membranes depending on the dopant type and the percent modified layer thickness. The ionic conductivity and diffusion permeability of hybrid materials have been studied. The modification is shown to increase the ionic conductivity at low relative humidity. The highest conductivity is observed for the membranes where the modified layer amounts to 35–50% of the total membrane thickness. On the contrary, diffusion permeability is reduced upon modification. Asymmetric ion transfer is observed: the ion transfer rate from the modified layer is lower than from the unmodified layer. This asymmetry arises from the anion concentration gradient in the membrane, which is directed from the modified to unmodified side of the membrane. An asymmetric membrane oriented so that its modified side faces the anode can potentially increase the power of a fuel cell.