Fluorinated carboxylic membranes deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition for fuel cell applications

Challenges in the characterization of plasma polymers using XPS

“…From[94], reprinted with permission.When the precursor, or the process, introduces other elements into the coating, such as oxygen together with fluorine, this renders the fitting more complex, due to the presence of CF x , and CO x moieties. Examples can be found in studies from Coulson et al[95] (seefigure 12), and from Thery et al[96], who intentionally plasma-deposited C 4 F 8 coatings in the presence of water vapors. Vásquez et al, who reported the synthesis of polythiophene and polypyrrole in presence of CHCl 3 , had to deal with ambiguity due to the presence of C-Cl x , C-N, and C-O moieties, very close in terms of chemical shift[97].…”

Single step solventless deposition of highly proton-conducting anhydride layers

“…Previous attempts made at utilising plasmachemical deposition for preparing proton conductive membranes have employed much higher average powers and continuous wave conditions, which lead to structural damage of the growing film. [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] Furthermore, they have needed to resort to mixing precursors which introduces inherent reproducibility issues.…”

“…36 In contrast to the aforementioned multi-step membrane fabrication techniques, plasma polymerization is a one-step, solventless methodology, which renders cross-linked, insoluble films. 37 Previous plasmachemical deposited acid-containing films for application in proton exchange membranes have suffered from low proton conductivity, [38][39][40][41][42][43] poor stability and cracking when hydrated, 44,45 and the reliance upon having to feed precursor mixtures (which can lead to reproducibility issues).…”

Proton exchange membrane micro fuel cells on 3D porous silicon gas diffusion layers

“…5. The 500 nm thick gold collectors were deposited with cathodic sputtering and the catalytic layers were deposited with spraying a C/Pt ink [16]. The proton exchange membrane was performed spraying a commercial Nafion Ò 1021 solution.…”