Perylene-based sulfonated aliphatic polyimides for fuel cell applications: Performance enhancement by stacking of polymer chains

Yao, Zilu; Zhang, Zhenghui; Hu, Min; Hou, Jianqiu; Wu, Liang; Xu, Tongwen

doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2017.10.032

Cited by 39 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a type of renewable and sustainable electricity generation technology with the advantage of high efficiency and zero emission [1,2,3]. As a performance–limiting component of PEMFC, proton exchange membrane (PEM) plays an important role in maintaining high intrinsic proton conductivity and insulating electrode [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding of Nanophase Separation and Hydrophilic Morphology in Nafion and SPEEK Membranes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Studies

et al. 2019

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The understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure and the hydrophilic structure is crucial for the designing of high-performance PEMs. Comparative studies in typical Nafion and sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) were performed using a combined experimental and theoretical method. SPEEK showed suppressed fuel crossover and good mechanical property but low water uptake, weak phase separation, and inadequate proton conductivity. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approaches were employed to get a molecular-level understanding of the structure–property relationship of SPEEK and Nafion membranes. In SPEEK membranes, the local aggregation of hydrophilic clusters is worse, and much stronger electrostatic interaction between Os–Hh was verified, resulting in less delocalized free H3O+ and much lower DH3O+. In addition, the probability of H2O–H3O+ association varied with water content. Particularly, SPEEK exhibited much lower H9O4+ probability at various relative water contents, leading to lower structural diffusivity than Nafion. Eventually, SPEEK possessed low vehicular and structural diffusivities, which resulted in a low proton conductivity. The results indicated that the structure of hydrated hydronium complexes would deform to adapt the confining hydrophilic channels. The confinement effect on diffusion of H2O and H3O+ is influenced by the water content and the hydrophilic morphologies. This study provided a new insight into the exploration of high-performance membranes in fuel cell.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding of Nanophase Separation and Hydrophilic Morphology in Nafion and SPEEK Membranes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Studies

et al. 2019

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“…Stacking of polymer chains has been shown to enhance the performance of the materials used for fuel cell applications. In the work by Yao et al [118], for perylene-based sulfonated aliphatic polyimides, the hydrophilic interactions shown by the sulfonated group were believed to be responsible for the high performance shown in the membrane. Considering a tetra-ammonium monomer while synthesizing and characterizing imidazole containing PEEK for anion exchange membrane fuel cell, the conductivity of the hydroxide increases as the number of the functional groups increases in the membrane [119].…”

Section: Direct Polymerisation Of Monomersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fuel cell membranes – Pros and cons

Ogungbemi

Ijaodola

Khatib

et al. 2019

Energy

190

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This investigation provides a critical analysis of the development of PEM fuel cells and related research with specific focus on the membrane material. The catalytic membrane is the most important component of the PEMFC giving rise to the need for the use of efficient, durable and cheap material to reduce the overall cost of the fuel cell. In this work, the need for materials other than Nafion to be used as PEM membranes is established and a case for the use of composite membranes material in fuel cells is made. Composite membranes increase the cell voltage by up to 11% even at high cell operating temperature of 95°C. They also increase the overall performance of the cell by up to 17% when dry hydrogen is utilised.Non-fluorinated membranes are also suitable for use in fuel cells for portable applications but they are very expensive and less conductive. Partially fluorinated membranes have good mechanical stability but expensive. The fluorinated membrane has high stability under oxidation and reduction conditions. Unfortunately, they only reach their optimum performance at ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 1 temperatures below 100°C which makes them of limited use in PEM fuel cells application at higher temperatures.

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“…In recent years, several studies have investigated the potential of SPIs with varying molecular structures, while polymer blending and filler additives have also been attempted. Z. Yao et al [46] aimed to improve the hydrolytic stability of SPIs by synthesizing perylenediimine-containing, aliphatic-type SPIs with different chain lengths, through the mild polyacylation of a sulfonated diarene monomer and aliphatic perylenediimide dicarboxylic acid monomers. Both short and long aliphatic SPIs showedimproved hydrolytic stability, compared to normal SPIs, under tests in hot water at 80 • C for 300 h, where the likely factors included the rigid perylene structures that helped strengthen the polymer.…”

Section: Improvements To Spi Pemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Progress in the Development of Aromatic Polymer-Based Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

et al. 2020

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Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) play a pivotal role in fuel cells; conducting protons from the anode to the cathode within the cell’s membrane electrode assembles (MEA) separates the reactant fuels and prevents electrons from passing through. High proton conductivity is the most important characteristic of the PEM, as this contributes to the performance and efficiency of the fuel cell. However, it is also important to take into account the membrane’s durability to ensure that it canmaintain itsperformance under the actual fuel cell’s operating conditions and serve a long lifetime. The current state-of-the-art Nafion membranes are limited due to their high cost, loss of conductivity at elevated temperatures due to dehydration, and fuel crossover. Alternatives to Nafion have become a well-researched topic in recent years. Aromatic-based membranes where the polymer chains are linked together by aromatic rings, alongside varying numbers of ether, ketone, or sulfone functionalities, imide, or benzimidazoles in their structures, are one of the alternatives that show great potential as PEMs due totheir electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal strengths. Membranes based on these polymers, such as poly(aryl ether ketones) (PAEKs) and polyimides (PIs), however, lack a sufficient level of proton conductivity and durability to be practical for use in fuel cells. Therefore, membrane modifications are necessary to overcome their drawbacks. This paper reviews the challenges associated with different types of aromatic-based PEMs, plus the recent approaches that have been adopted to enhance their properties and performance.

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Perylene-based sulfonated aliphatic polyimides for fuel cell applications: Performance enhancement by stacking of polymer chains

Cited by 39 publications

References 30 publications

Understanding of Nanophase Separation and Hydrophilic Morphology in Nafion and SPEEK Membranes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Understanding of Nanophase Separation and Hydrophilic Morphology in Nafion and SPEEK Membranes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Fuel cell membranes – Pros and cons

Recent Progress in the Development of Aromatic Polymer-Based Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

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