Development of proton-conducting membrane based on incorporating a proton conductor 1,2,4-triazolium methanesulfonate into the Nafion membrane

• Published in: Journal of energy chemistry 2015-03, Vol.24 (2), p.199-206
• Main Authors: Hao, Jinkai, Li, Xiaojin, Yu, Shuchun, Jiang, Yongyi, Luo, Jiangshui, Shao, Zhigang, Yi, Baolian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: high temperature PEMFC; ionic conductor; membranes; Nafion; Nafion膜; triazole; 三唑; 甲磺酸盐; 离子传导性; 离子导电率; 质子传导膜; 质子导体; 高功率密度
• ISSN: 2095-4956
• DOI: 10.1016/S2095-4956(15)60301-1

In this paper, 1,2,4-triazolium methanesulfonate （C_2H_4N_3^＋-CH_3SO_3^-, [Tri][MS]）, an ionic conductor, was successfully synthesized. It exhibited high ionic conductivity of 18.60 mS·cm^-1 at 140 ℃ and reached up to 36.51 mS·cm^-1 at 190 ℃. [Tri][MS] was first applied to modify Nation membrane to fabricate [Tri][MS]/Nafion membrane by impregnation method at 150 ℃. The prepared composite membrane showed high thermal stability with decomposed temperature above 200 ℃ in air atmosphere. In addition, the membrane indicated good ionic conductivity with 3.67 mS·cm^-1 at 140 ℃ and reached up to 13.23 mS·cm^-1 at 180 ℃. The structure of the [Tri][MS] and the composite membrane were characterized by FTIR and the compatibility of [Tri][MS] and Pt/C catalyst was studied by a cyclic voltammetry （CV） method. Besides, the [Tri][MS]/Nafion membrane （thickness of 65 μm） was evaluated with single fuel cell at high temperature and without humidification. The highest power density of [Tri][MS]/Nafion membrane was 3.20 mW·cm^-2 at 140 ℃ and 4.90 mW·cm^-2 at 150 ℃, which was much higher than that of Nation membrane.