• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.416-426
• /
• 2023

In this study, hindered amine-grafted graphene oxide (HA-GO) with antioxidant properties was prepared and incorporated into Nafion-based composite membranes as an effective filler material for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. HA-GO was synthesized via a ring-opening reaction between amine groups in 4-amino-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl piperidine and epoxy groups on the surface of GO. Nafion-based composite membranes containing different weight contents of HA-GO were fabricated to compare the polymer electrolyte membrane properties with those of the pure Nafion membrane. The composite membranes with HA-GO were found to have better mechanical properties, chemical stability, and proton conductivity than the pure Nafion membrane. In particular, the conductivity retention behavior confirmed by the decrease in proton conductivity after Fenton's test of the composite membranes was better than that of the pure Nafion membrane due to the incorporation of HA-GO with effective antioxidant properties.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2017

In this study, the composite membranes prepared by sulfonated graphene oxide (sGO) and Nafion were developed as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The sGO/Nafion composite membranes were prepared by mixing Nafion solution with the sGO dispersed in a binary solvent system to improve dispersity of sGO. The composite membranes were investigated in terms of ionic conductivity, ion exchange capacity (IEC), FT-IR, TGA and SEM, etc. As a result, the binary solvent system, i.e., ortho-dichlorobenzene (ODB) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), were used to obtain high dispersion of sGO particles in Nafion solution, and the ionic conductivity of the sGO/Nafion composite membrane showed $0.06Scm^{-1}$ similar to other research results at lower water uptake, 11 wt%.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
• /
• v.68 no.11
• /
• pp.1173-1182
• /
• 2018

Mesoporous silica allows proper hydration of an ion exchange membrane under low relative humidity due to its strong hydrophilicity and structural characteristic. A mesoporous silica and Nafion composite membrane shows good proton conductivity under low relative humidity. An understanding of ion-channel formation and proton transfer through an ion-channel network in mesoporous silica and Nafion composite membranes is essential for the development and the optimization of ion exchange membranes. In this study, a mesoporous cellular foam $SiO_2/Nafion$ composite membrane is fabricated, and its proton conductivity and performance are measured. Also, the ion-channel distribution is analyzed by using electrostatic force microscopy to measure the surface charge density of the mesoporous cellular foam $SiO_2/Nafion$ composite membrane. The research reveals a few remarkable results. First, the composite membrane shows excellent proton conductivity and performance under low relative humidity. Second, the composite membrane is observed to form ion-channel-rich and ion-channel-poor region locally.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.433-437
• /
• 2006

Pt/Nafion self-humidifying membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC) were synthesized via supercritical-impregnation methods. The Nafion 112 membranes were impregnated with Pt(II)$(acetylacetonate)_2$ from a supercritical carbon dioxide $(scCO_2)$ solution at $80^{\circ}C$ and 30MPa. After the impregnation, the pressure decreased slowly by releasing $CO_2$. And the Pt-impregnated Nafion membrane was converted Pt deposited Nafion membrane by reducing agent, sodium borohydride $(NaBH_4)$ with various concentrations under $50^{\circ}C$ and 2 hours. The prepared Pt-impregnated Nafion (Pt/Nafion) composite membrane were investigated by Electron Prove Micro analysis (EPMA) and X-rat Diffraction analysis (XRD) which showed distribution of Pt particle and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) a which revealed morphology of surface of Pt/Nafion composite membrane. The performance of the Pt/Nafion 112 membranes was examined in PEMFC as aself-humidifyin membranes using purpose-built equipment.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.11a
• /
• pp.88.2-88.2
• /
• 2011

Proton exchange memb rane fuel cell has been considered one of the next generation power source for electric vehicles due to high power density and low emissions. $TiO_2$/Nafion composite was prepared by the in-situ sol-gel method. The electrochemical characteristics of the $TiO_2$-Nafion composite membrane were evaluated by current-voltage and impedance of the membrane eletrode assembly in a single Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.11-15
• /
• 2008

The composite membrane for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was developed using $H_3O^+-{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$ powder and perfluorosulfonylfluroride copolymer (Nafion) resin. The perfluorosulfonylfluroride copolymer (Nafion) resin was mixed with $H_3O^+-{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$ powder and it was made to sheet form by hot pressing. The electrodes were prepared with 60 wt% PtRu/C and 60wt% Pt/C catalysts for anode and cathode, respectively. The morphology and the chemical composition of the composite membrane have been investigated by using SEM and EDXA, respectively. The composite membrane and $H_3O^+-{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$ were analyzed by using FT-IR and XRD. The methanol permeability of the composite membranes was also measured by gas chromatography (GC). The performance of the MEA containing the composite membrane (2wt% $H_3O^+-{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$) was higher than that of normal pure Nafion membrane at high operating temperature (e.g. $110^{\circ}C$), due to the homogenous distribution of $H_3O^+-{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$, which decreased the methanol permeability through the membrane and enhanced the water contents in the composite membrane.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.135-140
• /
• 2016

In this study, the organic-inorganic composite membranes composed of iron oxide (Ferroxane) and Nafion were developed as an alternative proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Acetic acid-stabilized lepidocrocite (${\gamma}$-FeOOH) nanoparticles (ferroxane) was synthesized, and the ferroxane-Nafion composite membranes were prepared by mixing Nafion with the ferroxane. The composite membranes were investigated in terms of ionic conductivity, ion exchange capacity (IEC), FT-IR, thermal stability, etc. As a result, the ferroxane-Nafion composite membranes showed higher proton conductivity, IEC, thermal stability than Nafion recast membranes. The proton conductivity and IEC of the composite membrane with the best performance were $0.09S\;cm^{-1}$ and $0.906meq\;g^{-1}$, respectively.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.201-204
• /
• 2007

A novel self-humidifying composite membrane for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) at low humidity condition was developed. The $Pt/TiO_2 catalyst particles were synthesized via supercritical impregnation methods. Pt precursor was dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide and impregnated onto $TiO_2$ particles. Pt precursors were platinum(II) acetylacetonate, Dimethyl(1,5-cyclooctadiene) platinum(II) and we controlled the ratio of Pt to $TiO_2$ The impregnated Pt precursor was converted to $TiO_2$ supported Pt nanoparticle under various reducing conditions. $TiO_2$ catalyst particles were dispersed uniformly into the Nafion solution, and then $Pt/TiO_2/Nafion$composite membrane was prepared using solution-cast method. The size, dispersion and content of the platinum had been characterized with Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM), X-ray diffract ion (XRD) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES). The cell performance with the self-humidifying composite membrane was compared with a recast Nafion membrane under both humidified and dry conditions at 65 $^{\circ}C$.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.421-424
• /
• 2006

Nafion/Pt/Polypyrrole composite membranes were fabricated by chemical in-situ polymerization of pyrrole monomers with Pt precursors in Nafion matrix for DMFC. We demonstrated that positively charged pyrrolinum groups of polypyrrole particles were co-interacted with sulfonic groups of Nafion as verified by FT-IR results. Mutual interaction between $Nafion-SO_3^-$ (or negatively charged Pt precursors) and Polypyrrole$-NH_2^+$ influenced the physical properties of pristine Nafion. Thermal property proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and cell performance of pristine and modified Nafion were analyzed for an application of DMFC membrane. Thermal stabilities of sulfonic groups and side chains in Nafion/Pt/polypyrrole composite membranes were higher than those of Nafion due to mutual interaction between sulfonic groups of Nafion and pyrrolinum groups of polypyrrole. Methanol permeabilities of Nafion/Pt/Polypyrrole composite were reduced more proton conductivities with the increase in the content of Pt particles. As a result of that, the enhancement of cell performance by Nafion/Pt/Polypyrole O2 relative to Nafion was more pronounced under the specific experimental condition such as high temperature and more concentrated methanol solution.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.159-166
• /
• 2003

The preparation method for composite membranes of high temperature operation above $100^{\circ}C$ for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs ) was presented, using perfluorosulfonylfluoride Nafion resin and mordenite, in addition to the physical properties, proton conductivity and single cells performance for it. The composite membranes were fabricated via melting of Nafion resin with various mordenite content. As the increase of mordenite content, at high temperature range, proton conductivity of the composite membrane increased due to the late dehydration rate of existent water in the mordenite. Also, from the result of the current-voltage relationship for single cells under $130^{\circ}C$ operation condition, the composite membrane cell with l0 wt% mordenite content showed better performance than that of the others over the entire current density range. This result indicated that the existent water in the composite membrane with l0 wt% mordenite content was higher than that with the others, thereby maintains its conductivity. Based upon the results of experiments, therefore, a Nafion/mordenite composite membrane prepared by this work is thought to be a satisfactory polymer electrolyte membrane for PEMFC operation above $100^{\circ}C$.