Nafion ®/mordenite composite membranes for improved direct methanol fuel cell performance

[Display omitted] ▶ Nafion/mordenite membranes perform better when the surface of the inorganic moiety is functionalized with a silane coupling agent. ▶ DMFC performance falls when the inorganic moiety is allowed to settle out of solution. ▶ If the solution is allowed to settle out of solution it ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of membrane science 2011-03, Vol.369 (1), p.367-374
Main Authors: Yoonoo, Chaiwat, Dawson, Craig P., Roberts, Edward P.L., Holmes, Stuart M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
artificial membranes
Chemistry
Colloidal state and disperse state
Composite membrane
composite polymers
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cell
Fuel cells
General and physical chemistry
Ion-exchange
Membranes
methanol
Methanol crossover
Mordenite
particle size
Surface physical chemistry
Zeolite
zeolites
Zeolites: preparations and properties
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Summary:[Display omitted] ▶ Nafion/mordenite membranes perform better when the surface of the inorganic moiety is functionalized with a silane coupling agent. ▶ DMFC performance falls when the inorganic moiety is allowed to settle out of solution. ▶ If the solution is allowed to settle out of solution it can form a compact layer at one side of the membrane which blocks the effective movement of protons through the MEA. ▶ The new membrane out performs a standard Nafion membrane. Composite polymer proton exchange membranes (PEM) were prepared by solution recasting. The composite membranes formed are based on Nafion incorporating a silane functionalized zeolite, mordenite, as an additive. The composite membranes were placed within a single cell DMFC and compared to an MEA featuring a standard Nafion 125 μm membrane. The impact of mordenite particle size, the choice of the silane functionalizing agent and the membrane preparation procedure are investigated. A composite ion exchange membrane which featured Nafion and a ground mordenite which was functionalized using glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane achieved a power density that outperformed a standard Nafion MEA under all conditions.
ISSN:0376-7388
1873-3123
DOI:10.1016/j.memsci.2010.12.030