Functionalized fullerene embedded in Nafion matrix: A modified composite membrane electrolyte for direct methanol fuel cells

Rambabu, Gutru; Nagaraju, N.; Bhat, Santoshkumar D.

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2016.07.032

Cited by 89 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…the mechanical strength by reorganizing aliphatic backbone chains. Rambabu et al 18 embedded sulfonic acid functionalized fullerene (FF) into a Naon matrix to prepare a composite membrane. They reported that at 1 wt% FF loading, composite membrane shows an increase in tensile strength by 1.13 fold and in proton conductivity by 1.24 fold with respect to pristine Naon membrane.…”

Section: -4mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulfonated graphene oxide/Nafion composite membranes for high temperature and low humidity proton exchange membrane fuel cells

et al. 2018

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Iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles anchored over sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) and Nafion/Fe 3 O 4 -SGO composites were fabricated and applied as potential proton exchange membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) operated at high temperature and low humidity. Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles bridge SGO and Nafion through electrostatic interaction/hydrogen bonding and increased the intrinsic thermal and mechanical stabilities of Nafion/Fe 3 O 4 -SGO composite membranes. Nafion/Fe 3 O 4 -SGO composite membranes increased the compactness of ionic domains and enhanced the water absorption and proton conductivity while restricting hydrogen permeability across the membranes. The proton conductivity of Nafion/Fe 3 O 4 -SGO (3 wt%) composite membrane at 120 C under 20% relative humidity (RH) was 11.62 mS cm À1, which is 4.74 fold higher than that of a pristine recast Nafion membrane. PEMFC containing the Nafion/Fe 3 O 4 -SGO composite membrane delivered a peak power density of 258.82 mW cm À2 at a load current density of 640.73 mA cm À2 while operating at 120 C under 25% RH and ambient pressure. In contrast, under identical operating conditions, a peak power density of only 144.89 mW cm À2 was achieved with the pristine recast Nafion membrane at a load current density of 431.36 mA cm À2. Thus, Nafion/Fe 3 O 4 -SGO composite membranes can be used to address various critical problems associated with commercial Nafion membranes in PEMFC applications.

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Section: -4mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulfonated graphene oxide/Nafion composite membranes for high temperature and low humidity proton exchange membrane fuel cells

et al. 2018

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“…This downshift may due to the interaction of fullerene with their functional groups. Rambabu et al have reported similar results for the sulfonated fullerenes …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Oxidation on fullerene surface was achieved by adding equal volumes of 6‐mol concentrated sulfuric acid and 6‐mol concentrated nitric acid at 130°C and stirred continuously for 8 hours . s‐Fu was synthesized by using 4‐benzene diazonium sulfonic acid according to the reported method . In brief, 4‐benzene diazonium sulfonic acid was mixed with water‐methanol mixture (2:3 volume proportion) at 3°C to 5°C.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to overcome the aforementioned problems, different kinds of functionalized fullerenes were employed to synthesize the composite and used for PEMs design. For example, Rambabu et al reported that the sulfonated fullerenes (s‐Fu)/Nafion composite membrane showed improved methanol resistivity and better electrochemical selectivity than did pristine Nafion membrane . Comparing with non‐functionalized fullerene composite membranes, functionalized fullerenes significantly improve the proton conductivity and displayed better dispersion in the membrane matrix, which improves the tensile strength of the membrane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Highly branched poly(arylene ether)/surface functionalized fullerene‐based composite membrane electrolyte for DMFC applications

et al. 2019

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Summary Sulfonated branched polymer membranes have been gaining immense attention as the separator in energy‐related applications especially in fuel cells and flow batteries. Utilization of this branched polymer membranes in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is limited because of large free volume and high methanol permeation. In the present work, sulfonated fullerene is used to improve the methanol barrier property of the highly branched sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone sulfone)s membrane without sacrificing its high proton conductivity. The existence of sulfonated fullerene with larger size and the usage of small quantity in the branched polymer matrix effectively prevent the methanol transportation channel across the membrane. The composite membrane with an optimized loading of sulfonated fullerene displays the highest proton conductivity of 0.332 S cm−1 at 80°C. Radical scavenging property of the fullerene improves the oxidative stability of the composite membrane. Composite membrane exhibits the peak power density of 74.38 mW cm−2 at 60°C, which is 30% larger than the commercial Nafion 212 membrane (51.78 mW cm−2) at the same condition. From these results, it clearly depicts that sulfonated fullerene‐incorporated branched polymer electrolyte membrane emerges as a promising candidate for DMFC applications.

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“…Rambabu et al . fabricated sulfonated fullerene/Nafion composite membranes with better mechanical stability and proton conductivity than pristine Nafion membranes . Dashtimoghadam et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel sulfonated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes filled chitosan composite membrane for fuel‐cell applications

Ahmed

Ali

Cai

et al. 2019

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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In the present study, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were sulfonated by 1,3‐propane sultone and distillation–precipitation polymerization, respectively, and then incorporated into chitosan (CS) to prepare CS/MWCNTs composite membranes for fuel cell applications. CS/MWCNTs membranes show better thermal and mechanical stability than pure CS membrane due to the strong electrostatic interaction between the SO3H groups of MWCNTs and the NH2 groups of CS, which can restrict the mobility of CS chain. The sulfonated MWCNTs provide efficient proton hopping sites (SO3H, SO3− …. 3+HN), thereby resulting in the formation of continuous proton conducting channels. The composite membranes with 5 wt % of MWCNTs modified by two different ways show a proton conductivity of 0.026 and 0.025 S·cm−1, respectively. In conclusion, CS/MWCNTs membrane is a promising proton exchange membrane for fuel‐cell applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47603.

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Functionalized fullerene embedded in Nafion matrix: A modified composite membrane electrolyte for direct methanol fuel cells

Cited by 89 publications

References 45 publications

Sulfonated graphene oxide/Nafion composite membranes for high temperature and low humidity proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Sulfonated graphene oxide/Nafion composite membranes for high temperature and low humidity proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Highly branched poly(arylene ether)/surface functionalized fullerene‐based composite membrane electrolyte for DMFC applications

Novel sulfonated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes filled chitosan composite membrane for fuel‐cell applications

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