Niobium and Antimony-Modified Titanium Dioxide/Epoxy Thin Film for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Inorganic Mesoporous Membrane is a new alternative to improve high-temperature fuel cell performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to substitute for Nafion. It possess high porosity and high specific surface areas, resulting in high proton conductivity. In this study, niobium-modified titania and antimony/niobium-modified titania ceramic were prepared via the sol-gel technique. The various contents of antimony, 0 to 3 wt%, and 3% niobium are incorporated into titania to improve the porous surface condition of the ceramic particles. The xerogels were heated at about 500°C. Inorganic membranes were prepared by using the spin-coating technique using epoxy resin as a binder. The physical, chemical, and electrical properties of these membranes were investigated. The XRD and Raman results showed that pure TiO2 and doped TiO2 nanoparticles obtained possess an anatase structure with mesoporosity. The specific surface area of the doped TiO2 was higher than that of pure TiO2 and it is worth pointing out that the doping of antimony affected the surface areas more than the doping of niobium in TiO2. Moreover, these membranes were also tested to evaluate their potential use as an electrolyte in PEMFC by using impedance spectroscopy, TGA, mechanical properties and water uptake.

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Highly proton conductive membranes based on carboxylated cellulose nanofibres and their performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

10.26434/chemrxiv.7851461.v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Valentina Guccini ◽

Annika Carlson ◽

Shun Yu ◽

Göran Lindbergh ◽

Rakel Wreland Lindström ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Surface Charge ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Membrane Surface ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Membrane Thickness ◽

Fuel Cell Performance ◽

Cellulose Nanofibres ◽

Exchange Membrane

The performance of thin carboxylated cellulose nanofiber-based (CNF) membranes as proton exchange membranes in fuel cells has been measured in-situ as a function of CNF surface charge density (600 and 1550 µmol g-1), counterion (H+or Na+), membrane thickness and fuel cell relative humidity (RH 55 to 95 %). The structural evolution of the membranes as a function of RH as measured by Small Angle X-ray scattering shows that water channels are formed only above 75 % RH. The amount of absorbed water was shown to depend on the membrane surface charge and counter ions (Na+or H+). The high affinity of CNF for water and the high aspect ratio of the nanofibers, together with a well-defined and homogenous membrane structure, ensures a proton conductivity exceeding 1 mS cm-1at 30 °C between 65 and 95 % RH. This is two orders of magnitude larger than previously reported values for cellulose materials and only one order of magnitude lower than Nafion 212. Moreover, the CNF membranes are characterized by a lower hydrogen crossover than Nafion, despite being ≈ 30 % thinner. Thanks to their environmental compatibility and promising fuel cell performance the CNF membranes should be considered for new generation proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

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