New modified Nafion-bisphosphonic acid composite membranes for enhanced proton conductivity and PEMFC performance. (13th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teixeira, Fátima C.; de Sá, Ana I.; Teixeira, António P.S.; Ortiz-Martínez, V.M.; Ortiz, A.; Ortiz, I.; Rangel, C.M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 33(2021)
• Page Start: 17562
• Page End: 17571
• Publication Date: 2021-05-13
• Subjects: Nafion -- Bisphosphonic acids -- Membrane electrode assembly -- Proton conductivity -- Proton exchange membranes -- Fuel cells; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.01.212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Proton exchange membranes remain a crucial material and a key challenge to fuel cell science and technology. In this work, new Nafion membranes are prepared by a casting method using aryl- or azaheteroaromatic bisphosphonate compounds as dopants. The incorporation of the dopant, considered at 1 wt% loading after previous selection, produces enhanced proton conductivity properties in the new membranes, at different temperature and relative humidity conditions, in comparison with values obtained with commercial Nafion. Water uptake and ionic exchange capacity (IEC) are also assessed due to their associated impact on transport properties, resulting in superior values than Nafion when tested in the same experimental conditions. These improvements by doped membranes prompted the evaluation of their potential application in fuel cells, at different temperatures. The new membranes, in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs), show an increased fuel cell maximum power output with temperature until 60 °C or 70 °C, followed by a decrease above these temperatures, a Nafion-like behaviour when measured in the same conditions. The membrane doped with [1, 4-phenylenebis(hydroxymethanetriyl)]tetrakis(phosphonic acid) (BP2 ) presents better results than Nafion N-115 membrane at all studied temperatures, with a maximum power output performance of ∼383 mW cm −2 at 70 °C. Open circuit potentials of the fuel cell were always higher than values obtained for Nafion MEAs in all studied conditions, indicating the possibility of advantageous restrain to gas crossover in the new doped membranes. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Nafion membranes doped with aryl and azaheteroaromatic bisphosphonates were prepared. Doped membranes showed higher water uptake and ionic exchange capacity than Nafion. New membranes had higher proton conductivity than Nafion at the same conditions. Fuel cell performance was evaluated from 30 °C to 120 °C. Nafion/BP2-1.0 showed higher power density than Nafion at all studied temperatures.