Abstract
Six hybrid membranes were synthesized by the sol-gel process, Nafion was used as a polymeric matrix and it was modified with 1% wt. of N-HfO2, N-ZrO2, N-La2O3, N-(HfO2-ZrO2), N-(HfO2-La2O3) and N-(ZrO3-La2O3), with a thickness interval of 120-160μm. The proton conductivity (CP) was evaluated by four-electrode method using a commercial conductivity cell (Bekktech®), a potenciostat-galvanostat (Autolab PGSTAT 302) in connection with a Fuel Cell Test Station (PSCompuCell of Electrochem®) was used to evaluate the hybrid membranes in a fuel cell conditions, in which relative humidity and temperature were established at 50-100% and 30-120 ˚C respectively. The N-La2O3 and N-HfO2 membranes showed a CP of 0.12 S/cm-1 (100%RH-30˚C) and 0.13-0.11 S/cm-1 (100%RH-80˚C - 50%RH-120˚C) respectively, while the CP of Nafion 115 is 0.09 S/cm-1 (100RH-30˚C). Water up-take and swelling at 30-100 °C was also measured. First results show a promising incorporation of a N-HfO2 membrane for PEM Fuel Cells performance at high temperature and low relative humidity.
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