title: Plasma membranes modified by plasma treatment or deposition as solid electrolytes for potential application in solid alkaline fuel cells.
abstract: In the highly competitive market of fuel cells, solid alkaline fuel cells using liquid fuel (such as cheap, non-toxic and non-valorized glycerol) and not requiring noble metal as catalyst seem quite promising. One of the main hurdles for emergence of such a technology is the development of a hydroxide-conducting membrane characterized by both high conductivity and low fuel permeability. Plasma treatments can enable to positively tune the main fuel cell membrane requirements. In this work, commercial ADP-Morgane® fluorinated polymer membranes and a new brand of cross-linked poly(aryl-ether) polymer membranes, named AMELI-32®, both containing quaternary ammonium functionalities, have been modified by argon plasma treatment or triallylamine-based plasma deposit. Under the concomitant etching/cross-linking/oxidation effects inherent to the plasma modification, transport properties (ionic exchange capacity, water uptake, ionic conductivity and fuel retention) of membranes have been improved. Consequently, using plasma modified ADP-Morgane® membrane as electrolyte in a solid alkaline fuel cell operating with glycerol as fuel has allowed increasing the maximum power density by a factor 3 when compared to the untreated membrane.
authors: Institut Européen des Membranes (UMR 5635-ENSCM, UM2, CNRS), Université Montpellier 2, CC047, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5 F-34095, France. marc.reinholdt@univ-poitiers.fr.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Reinholdt
authors: Institut Prime (UPR 3346-CNRS, Université de Poitiers, ENSMA), SP2MI Téléport 2, Boulevard Pierre et Marie Curie, BP 30179, Futuroscope cedex F-86962, France. ilie.alina@yahoo.fr.
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Ilie
authors: Institut Européen des Membranes (UMR 5635-ENSCM, UM2, CNRS), Université Montpellier 2, CC047, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5 F-34095, France. stephanie.roualdes@univ-montp2.fr.
authors: Stéphanie
authors: S
authors: Roualdès
authors: Institut Européen des Membranes (UMR 5635-ENSCM, UM2, CNRS), Université Montpellier 2, CC047, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5 F-34095, France. jeremy.frugier@ctisa.fr.
authors: Jérémy
authors: J
authors: Frugier
authors: Institut Européen des Membranes (UMR 5635-ENSCM, UM2, CNRS), Université Montpellier 2, CC047, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5 F-34095, France. Mauricio.Schieda@hzg.de.
authors: Mauricio
authors: M
authors: Schieda
authors: Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (UMR 7285-CNRS, Université de Poitiers), Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau, Poitiers F-86000, France. christophe.coutanceau@univ-poitiers.fr.
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Coutanceau
authors: Institut Prime (UPR 3346-CNRS, Université de Poitiers, ENSMA), SP2MI Téléport 2, Boulevard Pierre et Marie Curie, BP 30179, Futuroscope cedex F-86962, France. serguei.martemianov@univ-poitiers.fr.
authors: Serguei
authors: S
authors: Martemianov
authors: Institut Charles Gerhardt (UMR 5253-UM2, ENSCM, CNRS, UM1), Université Montpellier 2, CC1700, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5 F-34095, France. valerie.flaud@univ-montp2.fr.
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Flaud
authors: Laboratoire Matériaux, Procédés et Energie Solaire (UPR 8521-CNRS, Université de Perpignan), CNRS, Centre Félix Trombe, 7 rue du four solaire, Font-Romeu Odeillo Via F-66120, France. eric.beche@promes.cnrs.fr.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Beche
authors: Institut Européen des Membranes (UMR 5635-ENSCM, UM2, CNRS), Université Montpellier 2, CC047, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5 F-34095, France. jean.durand@iemm.univ-montp2.fr.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Durand