Functionalized Ceria Nanoparticles Reinforced with Short Side Chain-Based Composite Membrane for Low-Humidity Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cells

• Published in: ACS applied polymer materials Vol. 6; no. 19; pp. 11691 - 11705
• Main Authors: Dass, Baskaran Mohan, Neeshma, Maniprakundil, Unni, Sreekuttan M., Dhavale, Vishal M., Prabhakaran, Dhanasekaran, Bhat, Santoshkumar D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 11.10.2024
• Subjects: Polymer electrolyte membrane; low humidity fuel cells; functionalized Ceria; Silane condensation; short-side chain ionomer; fuel cell performance
• ISSN: 2637-6105; 2637-6105
• DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.4c02106

Polymer electrolyte membranes that facilitate rapid and selective ionic transport, particularly in environments with low relative humidity, are essential for hydrogen-powered fuel cell systems. This study presents a facile method of incorporation of functionalized ceria nanoparticles via silane condensation into a framework of perfluorosulfonic acid polymer with short-side chains, namely, Aquivion. This integration aims to enhance the water retention and proton conductivity of Aquivion under low relative humidity, broadening its application to low RH environments. A systematic investigation of various percentages of functionalized ceria nanoparticles within the Aquivion framework (Aq-f-CeO2), demonstrates that incorporating these nanoparticles enhances membrane hydration by retaining water in situ, thereby boosting fuel cell performance especially under low RH conditions of operation. The Aq-f-CeO2 based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) achieves a maximum current density of 2 A cm–2 at a cell voltage of 0.6 V and a peak power density of 1.55 W cm–2, surpassing that of pristine Aquivion (1.2 W cm–2) in the H2–O2 configuration. Additionally, optimal composition of the functionalized ceria in the Aquivion framework exhibits improved mechanical and chemical stability, retaining over 88% of its initial open circuit voltage (OCV) and 82% of fuel cell performance even after 100 h of Accelerated Stress Test (AST).