ZrO2 incorporated polysulfone anion exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

K. Rambabu; G. Bharath; Abdul Fahim Arangadi; S. Velu; Fawzi Banat; Pau Loke Show

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.175

ZrO₂ incorporated polysulfone anion exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

K. Rambabu, G. Bharath, Abdul Fahim Arangadi, S. Velu, Fawzi Banat, Pau Loke Show

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Vellore Institute of Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Novel imidazolium functionalized polysulfone (ImPS) membranes modified with zirconia (ZrO₂) were synthesized through solution casting technique. Structural, morphological, thermal and mechanical analysis of the composite membranes confirmed adhesion and property enhancement caused by ZrO₂. Water absorption investigations revealed better water absorption of the ImPS/ZrO₂ membranes with intact morphology. Maximum ion exchange capacity and ionic conductivity for the composite membranes were obtained as 2.84 mmol/g and 80.2 mS/cm (50 ^°C) which was 21% and 47% higher as compared to pure ImPS membrane. Alkaline stability of the blend membranes was increased due to strong interaction between ZrO₂ and ImPS molecules. Fuel cell performance using Pt/C catalysts exhibited OCP and power density elevation with incremental amounts of ZrO₂ in the composite membrane composition. ImPS membrane with 10% ZrO₂ recorded a highest OCP and power density of 1.04 V and 270 mW/cm² which was 35% and 39% higher than the pure ImPS. Thus, the anion exchange membranes developed by ImPS/ZrO₂ blending could be suiting well for alkaline fuel cells applications.

Original language	British English
Pages (from-to)	29668-29680
Number of pages	13
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	45
Issue number	54
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.175
State	Published - 4 Nov 2020

Keywords

Alkaline fuel cell
Anion exchange membrane
Imidazolium
Polysulfone
Zirconia

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10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.175

Cite this

@article{9485983f23aa44d2884ceff5323735d5,

title = "ZrO2 incorporated polysulfone anion exchange membranes for fuel cell applications",

abstract = "Novel imidazolium functionalized polysulfone (ImPS) membranes modified with zirconia (ZrO2) were synthesized through solution casting technique. Structural, morphological, thermal and mechanical analysis of the composite membranes confirmed adhesion and property enhancement caused by ZrO2. Water absorption investigations revealed better water absorption of the ImPS/ZrO2 membranes with intact morphology. Maximum ion exchange capacity and ionic conductivity for the composite membranes were obtained as 2.84 mmol/g and 80.2 mS/cm (50 °C) which was 21% and 47% higher as compared to pure ImPS membrane. Alkaline stability of the blend membranes was increased due to strong interaction between ZrO2 and ImPS molecules. Fuel cell performance using Pt/C catalysts exhibited OCP and power density elevation with incremental amounts of ZrO2 in the composite membrane composition. ImPS membrane with 10% ZrO2 recorded a highest OCP and power density of 1.04 V and 270 mW/cm2 which was 35% and 39% higher than the pure ImPS. Thus, the anion exchange membranes developed by ImPS/ZrO2 blending could be suiting well for alkaline fuel cells applications.",

keywords = "Alkaline fuel cell, Anion exchange membrane, Imidazolium, Polysulfone, Zirconia",

author = "K. Rambabu and G. Bharath and Arangadi, {Abdul Fahim} and S. Velu and Fawzi Banat and Show, {Pau Loke}",

note = "Funding Information: CIRA-2019-028 project grant of Khalifa University under the Competitive Internal Research Award scheme is greatly acknowledged for funding this research work. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC",

year = "2020",

month = nov,

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.175",

language = "British English",

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T1 - ZrO2 incorporated polysulfone anion exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

AU - Rambabu, K.

AU - Bharath, G.

AU - Arangadi, Abdul Fahim

AU - Velu, S.

AU - Banat, Fawzi

AU - Show, Pau Loke

N1 - Funding Information: CIRA-2019-028 project grant of Khalifa University under the Competitive Internal Research Award scheme is greatly acknowledged for funding this research work. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC

PY - 2020/11/4

Y1 - 2020/11/4

N2 - Novel imidazolium functionalized polysulfone (ImPS) membranes modified with zirconia (ZrO2) were synthesized through solution casting technique. Structural, morphological, thermal and mechanical analysis of the composite membranes confirmed adhesion and property enhancement caused by ZrO2. Water absorption investigations revealed better water absorption of the ImPS/ZrO2 membranes with intact morphology. Maximum ion exchange capacity and ionic conductivity for the composite membranes were obtained as 2.84 mmol/g and 80.2 mS/cm (50 °C) which was 21% and 47% higher as compared to pure ImPS membrane. Alkaline stability of the blend membranes was increased due to strong interaction between ZrO2 and ImPS molecules. Fuel cell performance using Pt/C catalysts exhibited OCP and power density elevation with incremental amounts of ZrO2 in the composite membrane composition. ImPS membrane with 10% ZrO2 recorded a highest OCP and power density of 1.04 V and 270 mW/cm2 which was 35% and 39% higher than the pure ImPS. Thus, the anion exchange membranes developed by ImPS/ZrO2 blending could be suiting well for alkaline fuel cells applications.

AB - Novel imidazolium functionalized polysulfone (ImPS) membranes modified with zirconia (ZrO2) were synthesized through solution casting technique. Structural, morphological, thermal and mechanical analysis of the composite membranes confirmed adhesion and property enhancement caused by ZrO2. Water absorption investigations revealed better water absorption of the ImPS/ZrO2 membranes with intact morphology. Maximum ion exchange capacity and ionic conductivity for the composite membranes were obtained as 2.84 mmol/g and 80.2 mS/cm (50 °C) which was 21% and 47% higher as compared to pure ImPS membrane. Alkaline stability of the blend membranes was increased due to strong interaction between ZrO2 and ImPS molecules. Fuel cell performance using Pt/C catalysts exhibited OCP and power density elevation with incremental amounts of ZrO2 in the composite membrane composition. ImPS membrane with 10% ZrO2 recorded a highest OCP and power density of 1.04 V and 270 mW/cm2 which was 35% and 39% higher than the pure ImPS. Thus, the anion exchange membranes developed by ImPS/ZrO2 blending could be suiting well for alkaline fuel cells applications.

KW - Alkaline fuel cell

KW - Anion exchange membrane

KW - Imidazolium

KW - Polysulfone

KW - Zirconia

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