Nanostructured Materials as a Dopant to Enhance Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Alcohol Fuel Cell Application

Abstract

A series of polymer electrolyte based on hydrocarbon polymers and Nafion doped with different nanomaterials were prepared and investigated. Nanomaterials based on graphene oxide, ZiF-8, TiO2, nanofibers and zirconium were used to enhance properties of different hydrocarbons and Nafion and tested for their basic properties. The water uptake, swelling ratio, ion exchange capacity, ion conductivity (IC) and thermal stability of the AEMs increased with increasing content of nanostructured materials. The presence of the nanostructured materials can lead to an increase in the interfacial area of the organic-inorganic phases, which creates a significant volume fraction of the interfacial polymer. The large free volume created is beneficial for the water molecule storing and conducting moieties mobility. The nanostructures materials can also act as Lewis acid sites to store and provide extra water to the membrane and has the ability to reduce the crystalline nature of the membrane and therefore increasing the ionic conductivity and lead to an alkaline stable and durable polymer electrolyte.