Mechanical properties of Nafion and titania/Nafion composite membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Measurements of the mechanical and electrical properties of Nafion and Nafion/titania composite membranes in constrained environments are reported. The elastic and plastic deformation of Nafion‐based materials decreases with both the temperature and water content. Nafion/titania composites have slightly higher elastic moduli. Thecomposite membranes exhibit less strain hardening than Nafion. Composite membranes also show a reduction in the long‐time creep of ～40% in comparison with Nafion. Water uptake is faster in Nafion membranes recast from solution in comparison with extruded Nafion. The addition of 3–20 wt % titania particles has minimal effect on the rate of water uptake. Water sorption by Nafion membranes generates a swelling pressure of ～0.55 MPa in 125‐μm membranes. The resistivity of Nafion increases when the membrane is placed under a load. At 23 °C and 100% relative humidity, the resistivity of Nafion increases by ～15% under an applied stress of 7.5 MPa. There is a substantial hysteresis in the membrane resistivity as a function of the applied stress depending on whether the pressure is increasing or decreasing. The results demonstrate how the dynamics of water uptake and loss from membranes are dependent on physical constraints, and these constraints can impact fuel cell performance. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2327–2345, 2006     

Enhanced stability of Pt electrocatalysts by nitrogen doping in CNTs for PEM fuel cells

Electrochemical stabilities of Pt deposited on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CN_x) of different nitrogen contents are compared with accelerated durability tests (ADT) for the first time. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal the different structures of CNTs and CN_x, and the decrease of Pt particle size with the nitrogen incorporation into CNTs. Based on the loss of electrochemical surface area (ESA) and TEM images, Pt/CN_x exhibited much higher stability than Pt/CNTs, and the Pt stability increases with the increase of nitrogen contents in the CN_x supports.     

P(VDF-co-TrFE-co-CTFE)-g-SPS共聚物的合成表征

采用商业聚(偏氟乙烯-co-三氟氯乙烯)(P(VDF-co-CTFE)为原料,结合氢化反应、ATRP和磺化反应系统合成了一系列聚(偏氟乙烯-co-三氟乙烯-co-三氟氯乙烯)-g-磺化聚苯乙烯(P(VDF-co-TrFE-co-CTFE)-g-SPS)共聚物.重点研究了测试环境(如温度和相对湿度)、聚合物微观结构(接枝密度,接枝长度等)对聚合物形貌、吸水率和质子传导率的影响.研究表明,在接枝量相同的情况下,随着接枝密度的降低,聚合物的相分离更加明显,亲水相从孤岛型逐渐转变为部分连续型;聚合物的吸水率随磺酸基摩尔含量增加而提高;聚合物的质子传导率随着温度的提高和湿度的降低而降低;在较低温度下,聚合物的电导率随接枝密度的增加而降低,而在较高温度下,聚合物的电导率随接枝密度的增加而升高.组成优化的P(VDF-co-TrFE-co-CTFE)-g-SPS共聚物在30～120℃和高湿度条件下,其质子传导率明显优于Nafion112膜.     

Numerical simulation of the ordered catalyst layer in cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

A steady-state, one-dimensional numerical model based on cylindrical electrode structure is presented to analyze the performance of the ordered cathode catalyst layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. The model equations account for the Tafel kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction, proton migration, oxygen diffusion in the cylindrical electrolyte and the gas pores, oxygen distribution at the gas/electrolyte interface. The simulation results reveal that ordered catalyst layers have better performance than conventional catalyst layers due to the improvements of mass transport and the uniformity of the electrochemical reaction rate across the whole width of the catalyst layer. The influences of oxygen diffusivity in gas phase and electrolyte, and the proton conductivity have been shown. The limitation by oxygen diffusion in gas phase drives the active region of the catalyst layer to the catalyst layer/gas diffuser interface. The limitation by proton migration confines the active region of the catalyst layer to the membrane/catalyst layer interface. The limitation due to oxygen diffusion in electrolyte film maintains the uniform distribution of the active region throughout the ordered catalyst layer.     

D-丙氨酸单晶低温变温光学性质的研究

用PEM-90光弹调制器和透射偏振光的方法,研究D-丙氨酸单晶结构低温变温光学性质的变化.D-丙氨酸单晶是双轴晶体,晶体各向异性,先测定劳埃像,结合D-丙氨酸晶体特征,确定晶面为[010]面.由于电弱力宇称不守恒,D-和L-丙氨基酸分子间存在宇称破缺能差,Salam预言在某临界温度(～250 K)下,D-氨基酸分子会发生二级相变.在218～290 K,通过原位测量D-丙氨酸晶体的旋光性质(I2f/Ide)随温度的变化,发现D-丙氨酸晶体在250 K左右有明显的旋光相变,与前期D-缬氨酸晶体低温相变结果相类似,从而为Salam预言的二级相变提供了佐证.     

氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合质子交换膜研究进展

氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合质子交换膜(GO/Polymer blend PEM)是一种新型的质子交换膜,广泛应用于直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)中,已成为质子交换膜研究的热点之一。氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合质子交换膜具有较高的传导质子率、力学性能、阻醇性能和电池性能。本文综述了氧化石墨烯(GO)处理方法、氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合质子交换膜制备方法,氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合质子交换膜的质子传导、阻醇、离子交换容量和电池的性能,氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合质子交换膜质子传递机理及阻醇机理。     

Direct Synthesis of Fully Sulfonated Polyarylenethioether Sulfones as Proton‐Conducting Polymers for Fuel Cells

Summary: SPTES polymers have been successfully synthesized by direct polymerization using tetramethylene sulfone as the solvent. The chemical structures of the SPTES polymers are confirmed by FT‐IR and NMR spectroscopy. The thermal stability is characterized by TGA, and the results show that the sulfonated groups on the polymer backbone are stable up to 300 °C. The measured proton conductivity reaches values above 300 mS · cm⁻¹ at 65 °C and 85% relative humidity. Tough, ductile, free‐standing membranes have been fabricated by solution casting from N,N‐dimethylacetamide, which indicates that the SPTES polymers have excellent membrane‐forming capability and mechanical property. The mono‐functional monomers are introduced into the polymerization to end‐cap the SPTES polymers. The end‐capping groups are effective in improving water resistance, oxidative stability, and retaining the proton conductivity.

Fully sulfonated polyarylenethioether sulfone.     

Side chain crosslinking of aromatic polyethers for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications

Novel aromatic polymers bearing polar pyridine units in the main chain and side chain crosslinkable hydroxyl and propargyl groups have been successfully synthesized. The polymers have been investigated in terms of their critical properties related to their application in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, such as doping ability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability. Crosslinked membranes were prepared by direct crosslinking of hydroxyl side chain groups with decafluorobiphenyl used for the first time as a crosslinking agent. However, further functionalization of hydroxyl groups to the propargyl derivative has also led to crosslinked polymers after thermal curing. Both types of crosslinked membranes exhibited higher glass transition temperatures as well as lower doping levels when doped in phosphoric acid compared with the non crosslinked analogs, confirming the formation of a successfully crosslinked network. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Electrocatalytical Application of Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide in PEM Fuel Cell: Effect of Reducing Agents of Dimethlyformamide or Hydrazine Hydrate on the Properties

Two kinds of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized with the reducing agents of either dimethylformamide (DMF) or hydrazine hydrate (HYD). The decoration of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) over these materials was provided by microwave irradiation (MWI) method. Detailed physical and electrochemical measurements were carried out. Based on the electrochemical results of both catalysts, it is not surprising the achievement of higher electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, higher electron transfer number, lower charge transfer resistance and higher fuel cell performance with the Pt/rGO (DMF) catalyst which surpasses Pt/rGO (HYD) in many ways.     

Hydrogen Production by Catalytic Reforming of Gaseous Hydrocarbons (Methane &; LPG)

Hydrogen has been attracting great interest as a major energy source in near future. The lack of an infrastructure has led to a research effort to develop fuel processing technology for production of hydrogen. In this review, we are reporting the catalytic reforming of gaseous hydrocarbons carried out in our research group, covering dry-reforming of CH₄, tri-reforming of CH₄, the electrocatalytic reforming of CH₄ by CO₂ in the SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) system and steam reforming of LPG. Especially, we have focused on our work, though the related work from other researchers is also discussed wherever necessary. It was found that tri-reforming of CH₄ over NiO–YSZ–CeO₂ catalyst was more desirable than dry-reforming of CH₄ due to higher reforming activity and less carbon formation. The synthesis gas produced by tri-reforming of CH₄ can be used for the production of dimethyl ether, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis fuels and high valued chemicals. To improve the problem of deactivation of catalyst due to carbon formation in the dry reforming of CH_4, the internal reforming of CH₄ by CO₂ in SOFC system with NiO–YSZ–CeO₂ anode catalyst was suggested for cogeneration of a syngas and electricity. It was found that Rh-spc-Ni/MgAl catalyst showed long term stability for 1,100 h in the steam reforming of LPG under the tested conditions. The addition of Rh to spc-Ni/MgAl catalyst restricted the deactivation of catalyst due to carbon formation in the steam reforming of LPG and diesel under the tested conditions. The result suggested that the developed reforming catalysts can be used in the reforming process of CH₄, LNG and LPG for application to hydrogen station and fuel processor system.