Preparation and Characterization of Nafion-Zirconia Composite Membrane for PEMFC

Abstract:

Polymer electrolyte membrane based on Nafion and zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) was developed via film casting method. The content of ZrO₂ (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt.%) was incorporated with Nafion solution to prepare Nafion-ZrO₂ composite membranes. Recast Nafion membrane was used as reference material. All of the prepared membranes have been subjected to both physical and chemical characterizations such as Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, water uptake rate (WUR) and conductivity measurements. The Nafion-ZrO₂ composite membranes were found to possess high thermal stability (T_g= 188 - 192°C) and conductivity (0.30 – 0.93 S cm^-1). This study demonstrates the possibility of developing Nafion-ZrO₂ composite membrane as promising polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell operated at medium temperature and low humidity.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 239-242)
• Pages: 263-268
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.239-242.263
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Siti Rahmah Mokhtaruddin, Abu Bakar Mohamad, Loh Kee Shyuan, Abdul Amir Hassan Kadhum, Mahreni Akhmad
• Keywords: Characterization, Composite Membrane, Nafion-zro₂, PEMFC

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