Nafion®/ODF-silica composite membranes for medium temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Yaowapa Treekamol, Mauricio Schieda, Lucie Robitaille, Sean M. MacKinnon, Asmae Mokrini, Zhiqing Shi, Steven Holdcroft, Karl I. Schulte, Suzana Pereira Nunes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

A series of composite membranes were prepared by dispersing fluorinated polyoxadiazole oligomer (ODF)-functionalized silica nanoparticles in a Nafion matrix. Both melt-extrusion and solvent casting processes were explored. Ion exchange capacity, conductivity, water uptake and dimensional stability, thermal stability and morphology were characterized. The inclusion of functionalized nanoparticles proved advantageous, mainly due to a physical crosslinking effect and better water retention, with functionalized nanoparticles performing better than the pristine silica particles. For the same filler loading, better nanoparticle dispersion was achieved for solvent-cast membranes, resulting in higher proton conductivity. Filler agglomeration, however,was more severe for solvent-castmembranes at loadings beyond 5wt.%. The composite membranes showed excellent thermal stability, allowing for operation in medium temperature PEM fuel cells. Fuel cell performance of the compositemembranesdecreaseswithdecreasing relativehumidity, but goodperformance values are still obtained at 34% RHand 90 °C,with the best results obtained for solvent castmembranes loaded with 10 wt.% ODF-functionalized silica. Hydrogen crossover of the composite membranes is higher than that forpureNafion membranes,possiblydue toporosityresulting fromsuboptimalparticle- matrixcompatibility. © 2013 Crown Copyright and Elsevier BV. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)950-959
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume246
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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