Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions
Isabella Nicotera, Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman, Valeria Loise, Martina De Bonis, Coppola Luigi, Cataldo Simari
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The development of high-performance proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology, particularly under demanding operating conditions. This study investigates novel nanocomposite membranes based on Nafion reinforced with sulfonated clay-carbon nanotubes (sCC) as a hybrid filler. The incorporation of sCC not only improved the ion exchange capacity and hydrolytic stability but also critically modulated water dynamics, leading to superior water retention and sustained proton diffusion, particularly at elevated temperatures. The nanocomposite membranes exhibited substantially higher proton conductivity, especially under low relative humidity conditions, a critical factor for high-temperature fuel cell operation. Electrochemical evaluation in a H2/O2 direct hydrogen fuel cell (DHFC) showed an almost fourfold increase in peak power density (443.2 mW cm⁻²) under challenging high-temperature, low-humidity conditions (120 °C, 20% RH) for N-sCC-L3 compared to recast Nafion (117.3 mW cm⁻²).
期刊介绍：
Energy is the single most valuable resource for human activity and the basis for all human progress. Materials play a key role in enabling technologies that can offer promising solutions to achieve renewable and sustainable energy pathways for the future.
Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy has been established to be the world''s foremost interdisciplinary forum for publication of research on all aspects of the study of materials for the deployment of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. The journal covers experimental and theoretical aspects of materials and prototype devices for sustainable energy conversion, storage, and saving, together with materials needed for renewable fuel production. It publishes reviews, original research articles, rapid communications, and perspectives. All manuscripts are peer-reviewed for scientific quality.
Topics include:
1. MATERIALS for renewable energy storage and conversion: Batteries, Supercapacitors, Fuel cells, Hydrogen storage, and Photovoltaics and solar cells.
2. MATERIALS for renewable and sustainable fuel production: Hydrogen production and fuel generation from renewables (catalysis), Solar-driven reactions to hydrogen and fuels from renewables (photocatalysis), Biofuels, and Carbon dioxide sequestration and conversion.
3. MATERIALS for energy saving: Thermoelectrics, Novel illumination sources for efficient lighting, and Energy saving in buildings.
4. MATERIALS modeling and theoretical aspects.
5. Advanced characterization techniques of MATERIALS
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