A Sol-Gel Modified Alternative Nafion-Silica Composite Membrane for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Abstract

Nafion-silica composite membranes are fabricated by embedding silica particles as inorganic fillers in perfluorosulfonic acid
\nionomer by a novel water hydrolysis process. The process precludes the use of an added acid but exploits the acidic characteristic
\nof Nafion facilitating an in situ polymerization reaction through a sol-gel route. The use of Nafion as acid helps in forming
\nsilica/siloxane polymer within the membrane. The inorganic filler materials have high affinity to water and assist proton transport
\nacross the electrolyte membrane of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell �PEFC� even under low relative humidity �RH� conditions. In
\nthe present study, composite membranes have been tested in hydrogen/oxygen PEFCs at varying RH between 100 and 18% at
\nelevated temperatures. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy
\nstudies suggest an evenly distributed siloxane polymer with Si–OH and Si–O–Si network structures in the composite membrane.
\nAt the operational cell voltage of 0.4 V, the PEFC with an optimized silica–Nafion composite membrane delivers a peak power
\ndensity value five times higher than that achievable with a PEFC with conventional Nafion-1135 membrane electrolyte while
\noperating at a RH of 18% at atmospheric pressures.