Nafion–TiO2 hybrid membranes for medium temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs)
- 1 December 2005
- journal article
- Published by Elsevier BV in Journal of Power Sources
- Vol. 152, 16-21
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.12.053
Abstract
A nanocomposite re-cast Nafion hybrid membrane containing titanium oxide calcined at T = 400 °C as an inorganic filler was developed in order to work at medium temperature in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) maintaining a suitable membrane hydration under fuel cell operative critical conditions. Nanometre TiO2 powder was synthesized via a sol-gel procedure by a rapid hydrolysis of Ti(OiPr)4. The membrane was prepared by mixing a Nafion-dimethylacetammide (DMAc) dispersion with a 3 wt% of TiO2 powder and casting the mixture by Doctor Blade technique. The resulting film was characterised in terms of water uptake and ion exchange capacity (IEC). The membrane was tested in a single cell from 80 to 130°C in humidified H2/air. The obtained results were compared with the commercial Nafion115 and a home-made recast Nafion membrane. Power density values of 0.514 and 0.256 W cm-2 at 0.56 V were obtained at 110 and 130°C, respectively, for the composite Nafion-Titania membrane. Preliminary tests carried out using steam reforming (SR) synthetic fuel at about 110°C have highlighted the benefit of the inorganic filler introduction when PEFC operates at medium temperature and with processed hydrogen. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reservedKeywords
Funding Information
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Hybrid Nafion–silica membranes doped with heteropolyacids for application in direct methanol fuel cellsSolid State Ionics, 2001
- Parameters of PEM fuel-cells based on new membranes fabricated from Nafion®, silicotungstic acid and thiopheneElectrochimica Acta, 2000
- Investigation of a direct methanol fuel cell based on a composite Nafion®-silica electrolyte for high temperature operationSolid State Ionics, 1999
- Improvement in the diffusion characteristics of low Pt-loaded electrodes for PEFCsJournal of Applied Electrochemistry, 1999
- Analyses of Self‐Humidification and Suppression of Gas Crossover in Pt‐Dispersed Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel CellsJournal of the Electrochemical Society, 1998
- Membrane‐Supported Nonvolatile Acidic Electrolytes Allow Higher Temperature Operation of Proton‐Exchange Membrane Fuel CellsJournal of the Electrochemical Society, 1997
- Self‐Humidifying Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel CellsJournal of the Electrochemical Society, 1996
- Controlling Crystallinity during Processing of Nanocrystalline TitaniaJournal of the American Ceramic Society, 1994