Fabrication of Dense Cerium Pyrophosphate-Polystyrene Composite for Application as Low-Temperature Proton-Conducting Electrolytes. Issue 10 (1st January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Ji-Hye; Park, Eun J.; Lim, Dae-Kwang; Singh, Bhupendra; Bae, Chulsung; Song, Sun-Ju
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 162:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: F1159
• Page End: F1164
• Publication Date: 2015-01-01
• Subjects: Dense Cerium Pyrophosphate-Polystyrene Composite -- Ionic Conductivity -- PCFC -- Proton conducting electrolyte; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0351510jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : The goal of this study is to improve the applicability of cerium pyrophosphates as dense electrolytes in proton-conducting ceramic-electrolyte fuel cells (PCFCs) in 100–230°C, by using polystyrene as a pore-filler in partially sintered cerium pyrophosphate substrates. In this study an inorganic-organic composite membrane composed of Gd 3+ -doped cerium pyrophosphate (Ce0.9 Gd0.1 P2 O7, CGP) and highly cross-linked polystyrene is prepared by polymerization of divinylbenzene monomers in partially sintered CGP substrates. The microstructure and electrochemical behavior of the CGP-polystyrene (CGP-PS) composites are characterized to understand their proton conductivity and long-term stability. The ionic conductivity measurement using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the CGP-PS membranes have high ionic conductivity (>10 mS cm −1 ) in 110–200°C range under humidified condition (water vapor pressure, p H2 O = 0.04-0.16 atm); where CGP-PS1 shows maximum conductivities of 16.1 and 14.8 mS⋅cm −1 in p H2 O of 0.16 and 0.12 atm, respectively, at 190°C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the as-prepared CGP-PS composites shows that they are dense and free of pores. The stability of the CGP-PS composites is analyzed after the long-term electrical conductivity measurement in humidified atmosphere.