title: Design of interpenetrated networks of mesostructured hybrid silica and nonconductive poly(vinylidene fluoride)-cohexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) polymer for proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications.
abstract: Organic-inorganic hybrid membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-cohexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) and mesostructured silica containing sulfonic acid groups were synthesized by using the sol-gel process. These hybrid membranes were prepared by in situ co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane and an organically modified silane (ormosil) by a self-assembly route using organic surfactants as templates for tuning the architecture of the hybrid organosilica component. In this paper, we describe the elaboration and characterization of hybrid membranes all the way from the precursor solution to the evaluation of the fuel cell performances. These hybrid materials were extensively characterized by using NMR and IR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, or impedance spectroscopy so as to determinate their physicochemical and electrochemical properties. Even though the ion-exchange capacity (IEC) was quite weak, the first fuel cell tests performed with these hybrid membranes show promising results relative to optimized Nafion 112 thanks to great water management of the silica inside the hydrophobic polymer.
authors.affiliation: CEA, DAM, Le Ripault, F-37260 Monts, France. franck.pereira@cea.fr
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vallé
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palmas
authors.forename: Janick
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigarré
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belleville
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez