TY - JOUR
T1 - Function and characterization of metal oxide-nafion composite membranes for elevated-temperature H 2/O 2 PEM fuel cells
AU - Adjemian, Kevork T.
AU - Dominey, Raymond
AU - Krishnan, Lakshmi
AU - Ota, Hitoshi
AU - Majsztrik, Paul
AU - Zhang, Tao
AU - Mann, Jonathan
AU - Kirby, Brent
AU - Gatto, Louis
AU - Velo-Simpson, Melanie
AU - Leahy, Jacklyn
AU - Srimvasan, Supramanian
AU - Benziger, Jay Burton
AU - Bocarsly, Andrew Bruce
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006/5/2
Y1 - 2006/5/2
N2 - Metal-oxide-recast Nafion composite membranes were studied for operation in hydrogen/oxygen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) from 80 to 130 °C and at relative humidities ranging from 75 to 100%. Membranes of nominal 125 μm thickness were prepared by suspending a variety of metal oxide particles (SiO 2, TiO 2, Al 2O 3, and ZrO 2) in solubilized Nafion. The composite membranes were characterized using electrochemical, X-ray scattering, spectroscopic, mechanical, and thermal analysis techniques. Membrane characteristics were compared to fuel cell performance. These studies indicated a specific chemical interaction between polymer sulfonate groups and the metal oxide surface for systems that provide a good elevated-temperature (i.e., fuel-cell operation above 120 °C) performance. Composite systems that incorporate either a TiO 2 or a SiO 2 phase produced superior elevated-temperature, low-humidity behavior compared to that of a simple Nafion-based fuel cell. Improved temperature tolerance permits the introduction of at least 500 ppm CO contaminant in the H 2 fuel stream without cell failure, in contrast to standard Nafion-based cells, which fail below 50 ppm of carbon monoxide.
AB - Metal-oxide-recast Nafion composite membranes were studied for operation in hydrogen/oxygen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) from 80 to 130 °C and at relative humidities ranging from 75 to 100%. Membranes of nominal 125 μm thickness were prepared by suspending a variety of metal oxide particles (SiO 2, TiO 2, Al 2O 3, and ZrO 2) in solubilized Nafion. The composite membranes were characterized using electrochemical, X-ray scattering, spectroscopic, mechanical, and thermal analysis techniques. Membrane characteristics were compared to fuel cell performance. These studies indicated a specific chemical interaction between polymer sulfonate groups and the metal oxide surface for systems that provide a good elevated-temperature (i.e., fuel-cell operation above 120 °C) performance. Composite systems that incorporate either a TiO 2 or a SiO 2 phase produced superior elevated-temperature, low-humidity behavior compared to that of a simple Nafion-based fuel cell. Improved temperature tolerance permits the introduction of at least 500 ppm CO contaminant in the H 2 fuel stream without cell failure, in contrast to standard Nafion-based cells, which fail below 50 ppm of carbon monoxide.
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U2 - 10.1021/cm051781b
DO - 10.1021/cm051781b
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33744816837
SN - 0897-4756
VL - 18
SP - 2238
EP - 2248
JO - Chemistry of Materials
JF - Chemistry of Materials
IS - 9
ER -