Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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Degradation of Nafion Membrane by Oxygen Radical

산소 라디칼에 의한 Nafion 막의 열화

  • Kim, Taehee (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Lee, Junghun (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Cho, Gyoujin (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Park, Kwonpil (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
  • Received : 2006.03.29
  • Accepted : 2006.08.24
  • Published : 2006.12.31
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Abstract

The degradation of the Nafion membrane by oxygen radical (OH, $HO_2$) was investigated in Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Nafion membrane was degraded in Fenton solution consisted with hydrogen peroxide (10-30％) and ferrous ion (1-4 ppm) at $80^{\circ}C$. After degradation in Fenton solution, C-F, S-O and C-O chemical bonds of membrane were broken by oxygen radical attack. Breaking of C-F bond reduced the mechanical strength of Nafion membrane, and hence induced pinholes, resulting in increase of $H_2$ crossover through the membrane. Decomposition of S-O and C-O bonds decreased the ion exchange capacity of the electrolyte membrane. The performance of unit cell composed the membrane, which was degraded in 30％ $H_2O_2$ with 4ppm $Fe^{2+}$ solution for 48 hr, was about half times as low as one with normal membrane.

고분자 전해질 연료전지에서 산소라디칼(OH, $HO_2$)에 의한 나피온 고분자막의 열화를 연구하였다. 산소라디칼 형성을 위해 과산화수소(10-30％)와 황산암모늄철(1-4ppm)을 이용해 Fenton 용액을 제조하고, $80^{\circ}C$에서 막을 일정 시간 열화 하여 막의 특성 변화를 측정하였다. 열화 후 고분자 막의 C-F, S-O, C-O 결합이 산소 라디칼의 공격으로 끊어짐을 보였다. C-F 결합의 끊어짐으로 인해 막의 기계적 강도가 감소하고 pinhole이 발생했으며 이로 인해 수소가 막을 통과하는 양이 증가하였다. S-O와 C-O결합의 파괴로 전해질 막의 이온교환능력(IEC)이 감소함을 보였다. 30％ $H_2O_2$에 4 ppm $Fe^{2+}$이 첨가된 용액에서 48시간 열화시킨 막을 이용해 단위전지 성능을 측정한 결과 정상적인 막 성능의 약 1/2로 감소했다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 산업자원부

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