A Highly Selective Novel Green Cation Exchange Membrane Doped with Ceramic Nanotubes Material for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Marwa H Gouda,Mohamed S Mohy Eldin,Tamer M Tamer

doi:10.3390/en14185664

Marwa H Gouda, Mohamed S Mohy Eldin + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185664

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Abstract

Herein, a pair of inexpensive and eco-friendly polymers were blended and formulated based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA). FTIR, XRD, EDX and TEM techniques were used to describe a Phosphated titanium oxide (PO4TiO2) nanotube synthesised using a straightforward impregnation-calcination procedure. For the first time, the produced nanoparticles were inserted as a doping agent into this polymeric matrix at a concentration of (1–3) wt.%. FTIR, TGA, DSC and XRD were used to identify the formed composite membranes. Furthermore, because there are more hydrogen bonds generated between the polymer’s functional groups and oxygen functional groups PO4TiO2, oxidative stability and tensile strength are improved with increasing doping addition and obtain better results than Nafion117. The permeability of methanol reduced as the weight % of PO4TiO2 increased. In addition, the ionic conductivity of the membrane with 3 wt.% PO4-TiO2 is raised to (28 mS cm−1). The optimised membrane (PVA/PEO/PO4TiO2-3) had a higher selectivity (6.66 × 105 S cm−3 s) than Nafion117 (0.24 × 105 S cm−3 s) and can be used as a proton exchange membrane in the development of green and low-cost DMFCs.

Highlights

Chemical energy is instantly converted into electrical energy by the fuel cell
Due to its chemical stability, mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, the Nafion membranes are the most perfluorinated PEMs utilised in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) [1,3]
When PO4TiO2 nanotubes are embedded into polymers, the hydrogen bonds will be generated between hydroxyl groups along the polymer backbone and oxygen groups of PO4TiO2. These hydrogen bonds will reflect on the membranes’ mechanical properties, strengthening them and limiting extreme swelling and water sorption [20,26], enhancing the ionic conductivity of formulated membranes containing PO4TiO2 nanotubes. This project aims to develop innovative nanocomposite membranes constructed from mild processing of environmentally safe and economic polymers compatible with water as the principal solvent to further DMFC commercialisation

Summary

Introduction

Chemical energy is instantly converted into electrical energy by the fuel cell. It is a sort of power-producing equipment that can efficiently convert and store energy. Hydrocarbons such as methanol or ethanol can be used as fuel in those cells. It produces zero emissions or minimum pollution [1]. Due to its chemical stability, mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, the Nafion membranes are the most perfluorinated PEMs utilised in DMFCs [1,3]. As a result, replacing them with ecologically benign and cost-efficient polymeric films is crucial and essential [6,7,8]

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