Study of mechanical degradation of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) membrane using ex-situ hygrothermal cycles for polymer electrolyte fuel cell application

Mirfarsi, Seyed Hesam; Karimi, Azam; Rowshanzamir, Soosan; Parnian, Mohammad Javad

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.08.067

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The AFM analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of SZrTi nanoparticles on the membrane roughness and ionic cluster interconnections (Figure ). The dark domains present the hydrophilic clusters, while the hydrophobic clusters are shown in bright domains . As depicted in Figure , hydrophilic regions in the nanocomposite membrane are more connected and well‐distributed compared with that in plain SPEEK.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The nanoparticle loading was found to be the more significant factor in the proton conductivity model, while the sulfonation time in the oxidative stability model was the main affecting factor. The optimal membranes were characterized by 1 H NMR, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Fenton test, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), water uptake, swelling ratio, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. The results indicate that the introduction of the optimal contents of SZrTi nanoparticle into the polymer matrix would improve the water uptake and consequently the proton conductivity at a higher temperature while keeping the swelling ratio at an acceptable range.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dark domains present the hydrophilic clusters, while the hydrophobic clusters are shown in bright domains. 1 As depicted in Figure 10, hydrophilic regions in the nanocomposite membrane are more connected and well-distributed compared with that in plain SPEEK. Hence, the remarkable improvement of proton conductivity in the nanocomposite membrane is justified by more interconnected channels; in this case, the vehicular mechanism is predominant.…”

Section: Characterization Of the Optimum Nanocomposite Membranementioning

confidence: 96%

“…Direct and highly efficient transformation of chemical to electrical energy with no pollutant emission would be possible by the aid of fuel cells. So, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells (PEMFCs) are considered to be a favorable device for the generation of green energy in the last decades toward portable and stationary applications . However, the incorporated membrane has a significant influence on the durability of PEMFCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells (PEMFCs) are considered to be a favorable device for the generation of green energy in the last decades toward portable and stationary applications. 1 However, the incorporated membrane has a significant influence on the durability of PEMFCs. In this regard, the physicochemical properties should be taken into consideration on preparation of the membranes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simultaneous improvement of ionic conductivity and oxidative stability of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell application

2020

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Summary Simultaneous high proton conductivity with high oxidative stability is one of the major concerns in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) preparation. With this perspective, different loadings of the sulfated zirconia‐titania, a binary metal oxide that possesses enhanced physicochemical properties, nanoparticle in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) polymer were evaluated by the response surface method to obtain the novel PEM with boosted proton conductivity and oxidative stability. Two models for correlation of proton conductivity and oxidative stability (in Fenton solution) with two independent factors, including sulfonation time and the weight percent of the nanoparticle loading, were obtained by central composite design. The optimum parameters to attain the highest proton conductivity with oxidative stability are found to be the sulfonation time of 6.48 hours and the nanoparticle weight percent of 10.12%. The nanoparticle loading was found to be the more significant factor in the proton conductivity model, while the sulfonation time in the oxidative stability model was the main affecting factor. The optimal membranes were characterized by 1H NMR, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Fenton test, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), water uptake, swelling ratio, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. The results indicate that the introduction of the optimal contents of SZrTi nanoparticle into the polymer matrix would improve the water uptake and consequently the proton conductivity at a higher temperature while keeping the swelling ratio at an acceptable range. The highest achieved proton conductivity by the resulted nanocomposite was 29.21 mS cm−1 at 120°C with 186‐minute durability in the Fenton's reagent. Moreover, the maximum peak power density of 199 mW cm−2 was achieved at 90°C and 100% RH for the single‐cell performance test of nanocomposite‐based membrane electrode assembly (MEA), while it was recorded at 112 mW cm−2 for commercial MEA. Acceptable dispersion of SZrTi nanoparticle in the SPEEK matrix causes negligible fuel crossover flux (eg, 0.35 × 10−6 mmol s−1 cm−2 and 12.49 × 10−6 mmol s−1 cm−2 for nanocomposite‐based MEA and commercial MEA, respectively), which is indispensable to improve the mechanical and chemical stability. So, the novel prepared nanocomposite SPEEK‐based membrane would be a promising alternative for the Nafion membrane at moderate to high temperatures. Highlights Sulfated ZrO2‐TiO2 binary oxide was introduced into the SPEEK polymer matrix. Chemical stability and proton conductivity were promoted by design of experiments. The nanoparticle loading was the main factor in the proton conductivity model. Sulfonation time in the oxidative stability model was the most affecting factor. Fuel crossover was omitted because of the presence of SZrTi nanoparticle in the SPEEK matrix.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characterization Of the Optimum Nanocomposite Membranementioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simultaneous improvement of ionic conductivity and oxidative stability of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell application

2020

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Vicious cycle during chemical degradation of sulfonated aromatic proton exchange membranes in the fuel cell application

et al. 2020

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Numerical investigation of gas cross‐over and hydrogen peroxide formation in hydrocarbon‐based fuel cell membranes

Karimi

Kalfati

Mirfarsi

et al. 2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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Summary Although hydrocarbon‐based proton exchange membranes have gained popularity, their durability needs further evaluation. In this study, a dynamic model is developed for a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) working with sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane to predict the concentration profiles of reactants inside the MEA, their cross‐over in the membrane, and hydrogen peroxide formation via chemical and electrochemical modes as a function of voltage and membrane thickness. Results show that reactants cross‐over, especially oxygen is accelerated under high voltages, promoting the chemical mode of H2O2 formation, whereas the voltage driving force and oxygen concentration simultaneously control the electrochemical mode. Moreover, a 50% reduction in SPEEK membrane thickness yields about 90%, 200%, and up to 50% rise in reactant cross‐over, chemical, and electrochemical H2O2 formation modes, respectively. The figures for the chemical mode of H2O2 formation are five orders of magnitude greater than their electrochemical counterparts. This numerical study shows that the most attention should be paid to the anode/membrane interface to mitigate the chemical degradation of hydrocarbon‐based proton exchange membranes.

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Study of mechanical degradation of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) membrane using ex-situ hygrothermal cycles for polymer electrolyte fuel cell application

Cited by 14 publications

References 49 publications

Simultaneous improvement of ionic conductivity and oxidative stability of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell application

Simultaneous improvement of ionic conductivity and oxidative stability of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell application

Vicious cycle during chemical degradation of sulfonated aromatic proton exchange membranes in the fuel cell application

Numerical investigation of gas cross‐over and hydrogen peroxide formation in hydrocarbon‐based fuel cell membranes

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