Nanocomposite SPEEK/Titania Nanosheets (TNS) Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract:

SPEEK-based composite membranes containing various amounts of titania nanosheets (TNS) as inorganic fillers were investigated for proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications. The samples were characterized for water uptake, proton conductivity (EIS), and structural features (SEM and XRD). Composites at low inorganic additive contents exhibited improved properties in terms of proton conductivity and water uptake behavior. Best improvements were observed for the composite containing only 0.95 wt% of TNS. This result could be associated to the unique nature of the two dimensional nanostructure of the inorganic additive.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 421-422)
• Pages: 447-450
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.421-422.447
• Online since: December 2009
• Authors: Debora Marani, S. Licoccia, Enrico Traversa, Masaru Miyayama
• Keywords: Composite Membrane, Proton Conductivity, Titania Nanosheet

References

[10] in agreement with d-spacing observed for H2Ti4O9. These results indicated the occurrence of layered product dispersed into the polymeric matrix and, suggesting an in-situ reassembling process upon the membrane preparation procedure, which led to the formation of nanometric scaled TNS packets. CO�CLUSIO�S TNS content is critical in determining morphology, dimensional stability, and conductivity properties of SPEEK/TNS composite membranes, as proven by SEM observations, water uptake measurements, and EIS analysis. Membranes with low content of inorganic additive showed enhanced proton conductivity with respect to pure SPEEK (C0), associated to the improvement in swelling properties. Additionally, XRD analysis indicated the presence of intercalated compounds dispersed in the polymeric matrix, thus suggesting an in-situ reassembling process. In conclusions, encouraging results were obtained even if further improvement of the electrochemical properties may be achieved by appropriate tailoring of all the relevant properties of both components, ionomer polymer and inorganic filler. ACK�OWLEDGME�TS This work has been supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) under the frame of the Italy-Japan Joint Laboratory on Nanostructured Materials for Environment and Energy. REFERE�CES.

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