Nanocomposites Use for the Creation of a Nanocomposite Fuel Cell Membrane in Advanced Hydrogen Technology

Abstract

Development of high-impact base metal catalysts as an alternative to their platinum analogs in fuel cells for Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) is a desirable but extremely challenging task. Cutting-edge technology and improvements in nanocomposites open the way for use of nanocomposite-based membranes, which facilitate the hydrogen and oxygen reduction reaction to increase the stability of reactions in fuel cell at high temperatures but have drawbacks due to unstable conditions of the relative moisture level, which affects the change in nanocomposite properties. This paper focuses on research into CsPW-Nafion nanocomposite membrane with stable structure and properties for fuel cell applications for hydrogen production purposes. Rather low efficiency of membranes in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in the fuel cell is a pressing problem, which requires alternative solutions in development of nanocomposite membranes to improve stability and conductivity properties. The findings of experimental research into the oxidation stability of nanocomposite membrane suggest that CsPW nanocomposite membrane has a high stability to oxidizing agents by reducing the diffusion of H2O2. Nanocomposite membrane has a fairly reliable performance at low relative humidity and high temperatures, which is due to compound with hydrophilic CsHP particles that tend to retain large amounts of water to maintain the membrane in a hydrated state. The authors were the first to suggest methodology for creating a nanocomposite cesium hydrogen salt membrane based on heteropoly acid with Nafion (CsPW-Nafion) for hydrogen technology fuel cell.