title: Promising aquivion composite membranes based on fluoroalkyl zirconium phosphate for fuel cell applications.
abstract: Layered zirconium phosphate (ZP) that bears fluorinated alkyl chains bonded covalently to the layers (ZPR) was used as a nanofiller in membranes based on a short-side-chain perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) to mechanically reinforce the PFSA hydrophobic component. Compared to the pristine PFSA, membranes with a ZPR loading up to 30 wt% show enhanced mechanical properties, and the largest improvement of elastic modulus (E) and yield stress (σY ) are observed for the 10 wt% ZPR membrane: ΔE/E up to 90% and ΔσY /σY up 70% at 70°C and 80% relative humidity (RH). In the RH range 50-95%, the in-plane conductivity of the composite membranes reaches 0.43 S cm(-1) for 10 wt% ZPR at 110°C and is on average 30% higher than the conductivity of the pristine PFSA. The 10 wt % ZPR membrane is as hydrated as the neat PFSA membrane at 50% RH but becomes progressively less hydrated with increasing RH both at 80 and 110°C. The fuel cell performance of this membrane, at 80°C and 30% RH, is better than that of the unmodified PFSA.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia (Italy), Fax: (+39) 0755855566. anna.donnadio@gmail.com.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Donnadio
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Pica
authors: Surya
authors: S
authors: Subianto
authors: Deborah J
authors: DJ
authors: Jones
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Cojocaru
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Casciola
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D054879:Halogenation; D006813:Humidity; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011522:Protons; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011522:Protons; C027006:zirconium phosphate; C040402:perfluorosulfonic acid; D015040:Zirconium
keywords: mechanical properties; membranes; organic-inorganic hybrids; proton transport; zirconium phosphate