A nanocomposite re-cast Nafion hybrid membrane containing titanium oxide calcined at T=400 degrees C as an inorganic filler was developed in order to work at medium temperature in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) maintaining a suitable membrane hydration under fuel cell operative critical conditions. Nanometre TiO2 powder was synthesized via a sol-gel procedure by a rapid hydrolysis of Ti(OiPr)(4). The membrane was prepared by mixing a Nafion-dimethylacetammide (DMAc) dispersion with a 3 wt% of TiO2 powder and casting the mixture by Doctor Blade technique. The resulting film was characterised in terms of water uptake and ion exchange capacity (IEC). The membrane was tested in a single cell from 80 to 130 degrees C in humidified H-2/air. The obtained results were compared with the commercial Nation 115 and a home-made recast Nation membrane. Power density values of 0.514 and 0.256 W cm(-2) at 0.56 V were obtained at 110 and 130 degrees C, respectively, for the composite Nation-Titania membrane. Preliminary tests carried out using steam reforming (SR) synthetic fuel at about 110 degrees C have highlighted the benefit of the inorganic filler introduction when PEFC operates at medium temperature and with processed hydrogen. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Sacca, A., Carbone, A., Passalacqua, E., D'Epifanio, A., Licoccia, S., Traversa, E., et al. (2005). Nafion-TiO2 hybrid membranes for medium temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In Journal of Power Sources (pp.16-21). AMSTERDAM : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV [10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.12.053].
Nafion-TiO2 hybrid membranes for medium temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs)
D'Epifanio, A;LICOCCIA, SILVIA;TRAVERSA, ENRICO;
2005-01-01
Abstract
A nanocomposite re-cast Nafion hybrid membrane containing titanium oxide calcined at T=400 degrees C as an inorganic filler was developed in order to work at medium temperature in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) maintaining a suitable membrane hydration under fuel cell operative critical conditions. Nanometre TiO2 powder was synthesized via a sol-gel procedure by a rapid hydrolysis of Ti(OiPr)(4). The membrane was prepared by mixing a Nafion-dimethylacetammide (DMAc) dispersion with a 3 wt% of TiO2 powder and casting the mixture by Doctor Blade technique. The resulting film was characterised in terms of water uptake and ion exchange capacity (IEC). The membrane was tested in a single cell from 80 to 130 degrees C in humidified H-2/air. The obtained results were compared with the commercial Nation 115 and a home-made recast Nation membrane. Power density values of 0.514 and 0.256 W cm(-2) at 0.56 V were obtained at 110 and 130 degrees C, respectively, for the composite Nation-Titania membrane. Preliminary tests carried out using steam reforming (SR) synthetic fuel at about 110 degrees C have highlighted the benefit of the inorganic filler introduction when PEFC operates at medium temperature and with processed hydrogen. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.