Proton exchange membranes for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were prepared by incorporating silica/silicotungstic acid (SiO2/SiWA) inorganic composite into a Nafion polymer. The effects of SiO2/SiWA content on proton conductivity of membranes were investigated by using a four-probe conductivity cell. Methanol permeability of composite membrane was also determined by using a homemade diffusion cell and gas chromatography technique. It was found that proton conductivity of the composite membranes decreased with SiO2/SiWA content, however the highest proton conductivity achieved was 11% greater than the pure recast Nafion membrane. The methanol permeability of composite membrane was much lower than that of pure recast Nafion, in a reduction of 58% which indicated a better resistance to fuel crossover. Nafion-SiO2/SiWA composite membrane showed promising advantages over pure Nafion on electrochemical properties such as proton conductivity and fuel crossover and it is potentially attractive for use in DMFC.
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6 April 2017
GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY: 2nd International Symposium (ISGST2017)
10–13 January 2017
Perak, Malaysia
Citation
Hui San ThiamMin Yan ChiaQiao Rou CheahCharlene Chai Hoon KooSoon Onn LaiKok Chung Chong; Proton conductivity and methanol permeability of Nafion-SiO2/SiWA composite membranes. AIP Conf. Proc. 6 April 2017; 1828 (1): 020007. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4979378
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