Nafion/Silicon oxide composite membrane for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract

Nafion/Silicon oxide composite membranes were produced via in situ sol-gel reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in Nafion membranes. The physicochemical properties of the membranes were studied by FT-IR,TG-DSC and tensile strength. The results show that the silicon oxide is compatible with the Nafion membrane and the thermo stability of Nafion/Silicon oxide composite membrane is higher than that of Nafion membrane. Furthermore, the tensile strength of Nafion/Silicon oxide composite membrane is similar to that of the Nafion membrane. The proton conductivity of Nafion/Silicon oxide composite membrane is higher than that of Nafion membrane. When the Nafion/Silicon oxide composite membrane was employed as an electrolyte in H₂/O₂ PEMFC, a higher current density value (1 000 mA/cm² at 0.38 V) than that of the Nafion1135 membrane (100 mA/cm² at 0.04 V) was obtained at 110 °C.

Keywords

PEMFC / composite membrane / silicon oxide / high temperature

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