In-plane distribution of water inside Nafion thin film analyzed by neutron reflectivity at temperature of 80 °C and relative humidity of 30%-80% based on 4-layered structural model

Structures of polymer electrolyte membranes and binders and the distribution of water inside are important for designing new ion-conductive ionomers for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Neutron reflectometry (NR) was carried out on a Nafion film with a thickness of 100 nm formed on native SiO2 surfac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 2019-08, Vol.58 (SI), p.SIID01
Main Authors: Kawamoto, Teppei, Aoki, Makoto, Kimura, Taro, Mizusawa, Takako, Yamada, Norifumi L., Miyake, Junpei, Miyatake, Kenji, Inukai, Junji
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computer simulation
Electric power generation
Electrolytes
Electrolytic cells
Humidity
Ionomers
Polymers
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Reflectometry
Relative humidity
Silicon dioxide
Silicon substrates
Thickness
Thin films
Water distribution
Water engineering
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Summary:Structures of polymer electrolyte membranes and binders and the distribution of water inside are important for designing new ion-conductive ionomers for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Neutron reflectometry (NR) was carried out on a Nafion film with a thickness of 100 nm formed on native SiO2 surface on Si(100) for understanding the in-plane water distribution. The temperature was set at 80 °C and the relative humidity at 30, 50, 65, and 80% for NR measurements, simulating the conditions for the power generation. Clear NR modulation was obtained under each condition. NR data were fit very well with a 4-layer model parallel to the substrate with different densities of Nafion and water. At the interface between the Nafion film and the Si substrate, a 1 nm water-rich layer was observed under all conditions. The water concentration increased with humidity at all 4 layers, but the thickness increased mainly at the bulk layer.
ISSN:0021-4922
1347-4065
DOI:10.7567/1347-4065/ab0c7c