A PFSA Composite Membrane with Sulfonic Acid Functionalized TiO₂ Nanotubes for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells and Water Electrolysers

Abstract

Titanate nanotubes (TiO2‐NT) were functionalized with sulfonic acid functional groups and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Results confirmed that sulfonic acid groups were grafted onto TiO2‐NT with a uniform distribution. When the functionalized titanate nanotube (F‐TiO2‐NT) was incorporated in perfluorosulfonic acid membranes, the membrane conductivity and water uptake were improved. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells using 5 wt.% F‐TiO2‐NT incorporated composite membrane exhibited a peak power density of 429 mW cm–2 with non‐humidified O2 at 90 °C, which is about four times higher than that with Nafion 117 membrane at identical conditions. PEMWE with 5 wt.% F‐TiO2‐NT incorporated composite membrane achieved 1,000 mA cm–2 current density at voltages below 1.6 V at 90 °C without back pressurizing.

Broadband plasmon photocurrent generation from Au nanoparticles/ mesoporous TiO2 nanotube electrodes

“…XRD analysis of the nanotube samples, before and after heattreatment, clearly indicated that the crystal structure changed to anatase TiO 2 (see Supplementary information for further detail) in agreement with the published literature [30][31][32]. The aggregates of TiO 2 nanotubes exhibited a mesoporous structure, in which Au nanoparticles could be incorporated into the scaffold.…”

“…TiO 2 nanotubes were prepared by the alkaline hydrothermal treatment method [29][30][31][32][33]. Briefly, anatase TiO 2 nanopowders (1.2 g) were dispersed in of 10 mol dm À 3 NaOH solution (100 cm 3 ) with ultrasonication.…”

New approaches towards novel composite and multilayer membranes for intermediate temperature-polymer electrolyte fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells

“…Among the metal oxides, one of the most widely researched materials is silicon oxide. Other common metal oxides used for this purpose include TiO 2 [43,44], ZrO 2 [45] and Fe 3 O 4 [46]. Adjemian, [21] et al [47] introduced hydrated SiO 2 (via sol-gel method) in the Nafion hydrophilic channels to improve the water retention for use in a PEFC above 100 °C.…”

Modified Polyethersulfone Membranes With Photocatalytic Properties

“…Based on above, hydrophilicity and antifouling ability of membrane surface can be enhanced due to minimization of mass transfer resistance between the semi-conductor surface and fluid bulk via the forced transport of reactants by convection [5]. Great variety of materials has been used for the membrane surface modification, such as TiO 2 nanotubes [6], TiO 2 -graphene oxide (GO) [7][8][9], carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [10][11][12][13], etc.…”