Abstract
A large number of nano-sized oxides have been studied in the literature as fillers for polymeric membranes, such as Nafion®. Superacidic sulfated oxides have been proposed and characterized. Once incorporated into polymer matrices, their beneficial effect on peculiar membrane properties has been demonstrated. The alteration of physical-chemical properties of composite membranes has roots in the intermolecular interaction between the inorganic filler surface groups and the polymer chains. In the attempt to tackle this fundamental issue, here we discuss, by a multi-technique approach, the properties of a nanosized sulfated titania material as a candidate filler for Nafion membranes. The results of a systematic study carried out by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, Raman and infrared spectroscopies are presented and discussed to get novel insights about the structural features, molecular properties, and morphological characteristics of sulphated TiO2 nanopowders and composite Nafion membranes containing different amount of sulfated TiO2 nanoparticles (2%, 5%, 7% w/w).
Highlights
Among the different polymer electrolytes proposed as proton exchange membranes (PEM) for fuel cell (FC) applications, one of the best choices is represented by perfluorinated polymers, such as Dupont’s Nafion®, due to their high proton conductivity and the excellent mechanical and chemical stability
An upgrade of the Nafion properties in critical conditions can be achieved by loading the pristine Nafion with hydrophilic inorganic acids, which can both act as a water reservoir, into the polymer matrix and, in virtue of their acidity, provide additional pathways for proton hopping inside the polymer
This paper presents and discusses the results of systematic investigations, carried out by means of a multi-techniques approach, on sulfated TiO2 nano-powders synthesized via a novel one-step method and three composite Nafion-based membranes, obtained by the incorporation of different amounts of these S-TiO2 powder
Summary
Among the different polymer electrolytes proposed as proton exchange membranes (PEM) for fuel cell (FC) applications, one of the best choices is represented by perfluorinated polymers, such as Dupont’s Nafion® , due to their high proton conductivity and the excellent mechanical and chemical stability. Polymers 2016, 8, 68 have become the subject of intensive studies, due to the high stability and extraordinary acidity of some of these compounds, as, for instance, sulfated zirconium oxide [1,2,3], sulfated tin oxide [4,5], and sulfated titanium oxide [6]. The latter has been widely studied in the past as a catalyst and as a proton conductor [7,8]. Sulfated titania nanoparticles have been added to various polymers to form composite membranes with improved thermal and mechanical properties and enhanced proton conductivity [9]
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