Evaluation of smectite clays as nanofillers for the synthesis of nanocomposite polymer electrolytes for fuel cell applications

Nicotera, Isabella; Enotiadis, Apostolos; Angjeli, Kristina; Coppola, Luigi; Gournis, Dimitrios

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.06.041

Cited by 52 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Additionally, our recent study [11] has demonstrated as such smectite clays materials dispersed in Nafion significantly improve the water retention and mobility at temperatures above 100 °C of the nanocomposite membrane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

NMR and Electrochemical Investigation of the Transport Properties of Methanol and Water in Nafion and Clay-Nanocomposites Membranes for DMFCs

et al. 2012

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Water and methanol transport behavior, solvents adsorption and electrochemical properties of filler-free Nafion and nanocomposites based on two smectite clays, were investigated using impedance spectroscopy, DMFC tests and NMR methods, including spin-lattice relaxation and pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion under variable temperature conditions. Synthetic (Laponite) and natural (Swy-2) smectite clays, with different structural and physical parameters, were incorporated into the Nafion for the creation of exfoliated nanocomposites. Transport mechanism of water and methanol appears to be influenced from the dimensions of the dispersed platelike silicate layers as well as from their cation exchange capacity (CEC). The details of the NMR results and the effect of the methanol solution concentration are discussed. Clays particles, and in particular Swy-2, demonstrate to be a potential physical barrier for methanol cross-over, reducing the methanol diffusion with an evident blocking effect yet nevertheless ensuring a high water mobility up to 130 °C and for several hours, proving the exceptional water retention property of these materials and their possible use in the DMFCs applications. Electrochemical behavior is investigated by cell resistance and polarization measurements. From these analyses it is derived that the addition of clay materials to recast Nafion decreases the ohmic losses at high temperatures extending in this way the operating range of a direct methanol fuel cell.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

NMR and Electrochemical Investigation of the Transport Properties of Methanol and Water in Nafion and Clay-Nanocomposites Membranes for DMFCs

et al. 2012

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“…17,18,[27][28][29][30] It is therefore evident that the chemical and structural nature of the polymer, the chemical affinity and the nature of the interactions between the polymer chains and the material/filler play a crucial role in obtaining a homogeneous composite membrane characterized by a real nanodispersion. 17,18,[27][28][29][30] It is therefore evident that the chemical and structural nature of the polymer, the chemical affinity and the nature of the interactions between the polymer chains and the material/filler play a crucial role in obtaining a homogeneous composite membrane characterized by a real nanodispersion.…”

Section: Spes-ldh Nanocomposite Membranementioning

confidence: 99%

Toward optimization of a robust low‐cost sulfonated‐polyethersulfone containing layered double hydroxide for PEM fuel cells

Simari

Vecchio

Enotiadis

et al. 2019

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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Polyethersulphone (PES) is an aromatic thermoplastic, at low environmental impact, evaluated in this work as a promising candidate for new polymer electrolytes in the PEMFCs technology. A sulfonation procedure has been tuned in order to graft sulfonic acid groups on the polymer chains (sPES) and to make it hydrophilic. Homogeneous membranes with different polymer's sulfonation degrees (SD%) have demonstrated excellent mechanical properties and very low permeability toward methanol (important in the DMFCs), even if low proton conductivity. Nanocomposite sPES membranes were prepared by dispersion of highly hydrophilic lamellar particles such as layered double hydroxide (LDH) in the polymer. Deep investigations performed by a combination of PFG-NMR, EIS, XRD, DMA, and scanning electron microscopy have evidenced the exfoliation of the lamellae in polymer matrix. However, a certain anisotropy was evidenced both in the morphology and molecular diffusion, favored in the longitudinal direction (parallel to surface), while completely inhibited in the cross-section. This finding is most likely induced by the polymer structure, therefore particular attention must be paid to the choice of the filler and preparation of the composites.

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“…Clays, pristine or modified, have also been evaluated as promising fillers for different polymer matrices. Smectite clays like natural montmorillonite [43,44,45,46,47,48] or synthetic laponite [49,50,51,52,53] have received much attention for their barrier properties. Fibrous ones, palygorskite [54,55] or sepiolite [56,57,58,59], have been less studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvement of Nafion®-sepiolite composite membranes for PEMFC with sulfo-fluorinated sepiolite

Beauger

Lainé

Burr

et al. 2015

Journal of Membrane Science

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Evaluation of smectite clays as nanofillers for the synthesis of nanocomposite polymer electrolytes for fuel cell applications

Cited by 52 publications

References 50 publications

NMR and Electrochemical Investigation of the Transport Properties of Methanol and Water in Nafion and Clay-Nanocomposites Membranes for DMFCs

NMR and Electrochemical Investigation of the Transport Properties of Methanol and Water in Nafion and Clay-Nanocomposites Membranes for DMFCs

Toward optimization of a robust low‐cost sulfonated‐polyethersulfone containing layered double hydroxide for PEM fuel cells

Improvement of Nafion®-sepiolite composite membranes for PEMFC with sulfo-fluorinated sepiolite

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