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Sulfonated Graphene-Nafion Composite Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Operating under Reduced Relative Humidity

Title
Sulfonated Graphene-Nafion Composite Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Operating under Reduced Relative Humidity
Author(s)
Sahu, Akhila KumarKetpang, KriangsakShanmugam, SangarajuKwon, OsungLee, SangcheolKim, Hasuck
Issued Date
2016-07-28
Citation
Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v.120, no.29, pp.15855 - 15866
Type
Article
Keywords
Composite MembranesElectrolyte MembraneElectrolytesFilled PolymersFuel Cell ApplicationFuel CellsFunctionalizationGrapheneGRAPHITE NANOCOMPOSITESHIGH-TemPERATUREHYBRID MemBRANESHydrogenIdentical ConditionsMemBRANESNafion Composite MembranesOXIDEPeak Power DensitiesPERFORMANCEPolyelectrolytesPolymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ApplicationsPolymer Electrolyte Fuel CellsPROTON-EXCHANGE MemBRANESProton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PemFC)Solid ElectrolytesSulfonic ACID-FunctionalizedTRANSPORTWater AbsorptionWater Management
ISSN
1932-7447
Abstract
Sulfonic acid-functionalized graphene (S-graphene) is employed as a promising inorganic filler as well as a solid acid proton conducting medium to realize a composite membrane with Nafion for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) applications under reduced relative humidity (RH). The functionalization of graphene is performed by sulfonic acid-containing aryl radicals to increase the number of sulfonate groups per unit volume of a domain. A Nafion-S-graphene composite membrane is obtained by embedding S-graphene in Nafion, which provides high absorption of water and fast proton-transport across the electrolyte membrane under low RH values. The proton conductivity of the Nafion-S-graphene (1%) composite membrane at 20% RH is 17 mS cm-1, which is five times higher than that of a pristine recast Nafion membrane. PEFCs incorporating the Nafion-S-graphene composite membrane deliver a peak power density of 300 mW cm-2 at a load current density of 760 mA cm-2 while operating at optimum temperature of 70 °C under 20% RH and ambient pressure. By contrast, operating under identical conditions, a peak power density of 220 mW cm-2 is achieved with the pristine recast Nafion membrane. The Nafion-S-graphene composite membrane could be used to address many critical problems associated with commercial Nafion membranes in fuel cell applications. © 2016 American Chemical Society.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11750/2232
DOI
10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b11674
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Related Researcher
  • 상가라쥬샨무감 Shanmugam, Sangaraju
  • Research Interests Electrocatalysts for fuel cells; water splitting; metal-air batteries; Polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells; flow batteries; Hydrogen generation and utilization
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Appears in Collections:
Department of Energy Science and Engineering Advanced Energy Materials Laboratory 1. Journal Articles
Division of Intelligent Robot 1. Journal Articles

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