Water sorption and transport in Nafion membranes

Paul W. Majsztrik, M. Barclay Satterfield, Andrew Bruce Bocarsly, Jay Burton Benziger

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Water sorption, desorption, and permeation in and through Nafion membranes 51-606 pm thick were measured as functions of temperature between 30 and 90°C. Water permeation rates are weakly dependent on membrane thickness. Water permeation from liquid water was faster than water permeation from 100% relative humidity gas. These results indicated that interfacial mass transport at the membrane/gas interface was the limiting resistance to transport and not diffusion. Water sorption is initially limited by interfacial mass transport; above a critical water content water sorption is limited by polymer relaxation dynamics associated with swelling. Water desorption from a water saturated film was an order of magnitude faster than water sorption. Different regimes of water transport and sorption in Nafion membranes corresponding to diffusion, interfacial transport and polymer swelling depend on membrane thickness, temperature and the contacting phase.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationECS Transactions - 7th Symposium Devoted to Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Pages609-621
Number of pages13
Edition1 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Event7th Symposium Devoted to Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells - 212th ECS Meeting - Washington, DC, United States
Duration: Oct 7 2007Oct 12 2007

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number1 PART 1
Volume11
ISSN (Print)1938-5862
ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

Other

Other7th Symposium Devoted to Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells - 212th ECS Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington, DC
Period10/7/0710/12/07

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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