Protonated state and synergistic role of Nd³⁺ doped barium cerate perovskite for the enhancement of ionic pathways in novel sulfonated polyethersulfone for H₂/O₂ fuel cells

Abstract

1.8 times higher current density and power density were obtained for a Nd3+ doped barium cerate membrane compared to pure SPES.

Investigation on the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/poly(amide‐imide)/barium cerate‐based nanocomposite membrane for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

“… 41,43,44 The interfacial interplay of PAI and BaCeO 3 with SPEEK forming the hydrogen bond via polar groups and hinder the attack of free radicals in the HSO 3 groups. These restrictions made the minimal formation of radical in cathode sites and the benefit of BaCeO 3 nanoparticles favors the reduction reaction process 16,40,45 . The comparison of performance (B3) of the present study with Nafion and other membranes is shown in Table 3.…”

“…The protons are attached into the oxide lattice sites of BaCeO 3 via hydrogen bond under humid status. These are unbalanced and migrated to another oxide site only with adequate minimal potential 16,38‐40 . The octahedral (Ce‐O 4 ) arrangement was the favorable migration path for hopping and rotation process in perovskite material.…”

“…These restrictions made the minimal formation of radical in cathode sites and the benefit of BaCeO 3 nanoparticles favors the reduction reaction process. 16,40,45 The comparison of performance (B3) of the present study with Nafion and other membranes is shown in Table 3.…”

“…These are unbalanced and migrated to another oxide site only with adequate minimal potential. 16,[38][39][40] The octahedral (Ce-O 4 ) arrangement was the favorable migration path for hopping and rotation process in perovskite material. The B3 membrane manifests higher conductivity (14.98 × 10 −3 Scm −1 at 80 C) than others at all temperatures due to the increased ionic clusters channels that furnished smooth convenience of protons.…”

“…41 The appropriate content of BaCeO 3 nanoparticle (8 wt%) included in polymer matrices causes the poor dispersion through the composite matrices, which forbid the establishment of water molecules, and the results show lesser conductivity of B4 membrane (12.65 × 10 −3 Scm −1 at 80 C) than B3. 16,40,42 The activation energy measures a certain threshold potential of protons travel along the polymer, and the presence of BaCeO 3 in the B3 membrane facilitates the minimum potential via facile hopping mechanism (Figure 9B).…”