New Generation Fuel Cell Membrane Using Swift Heavy Ions

Fluoropolymers and Their Nanohybrids As Energy Materials: Application to Fuel Cells and Energy Harvesting

The current review article provides deep insight into the fluoropolymers and their applications in energy technology, especially in the field of energy harvesting and the development of fuel cell electrolyte polymeric membranes. Fluoropolymers have gained wide attention in the field of energy applications due to their versatile properties. The incorporation of nanofillers within the fluoropolymer to develop the nanohybrid results in an enhancement in the properties, like thermal, mechanical, gas permeation, different fuel cross-over phenomena through the membrane, hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature, ion transport, and piezo-electric properties for fabricating energy devices. The properties of nanohybrid materials/membranes are influenced by several factors, such as type of filler, their size, amount of filler, level of dispersion, surface acidity, shape, and formation of networking within the polymer matrix. Fluoropolymer-based nanohybrids have replaced several commercial materials due to their chemical inertness, better efficacy, and durability. The addition of certain electroactive fillers in the polymer matrix enhances the polar phase, which enhances the applicability of the hybrid for fuel cell and energy-harvesting applications. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) is one of the remarkable fluoropolymers in the field of energy applications such as fuel cell and piezoelectric energy harvesting. In the present review, a detailed discussion of the different kinds of nanofillers and their role in energy harvesting and fuel cell electrolyte membranes is projected.

Fabrication of Conducting Nanochannels Using Accelerator for Fuel Cell Membrane and Removal of Radionuclides: Role of Nanoparticles

Latent tracks in pure polymer and its nanohybrid are fabricated by irradiating with swift heavy ions (SHI) (Ag⁺) having 140 MeV energy followed by selective chemical etching of the amorphous path, caused by the irradiation of SHI, to generate nanochannels of size ∼80 nm. Grafting is done within the nanochannels utilizing free radicals generated from the interaction of high-energy ions, followed by tagging of ionic species to make the nanochannels highly ion-conducting. The uniform dispersion of two-dimensional nanoparticles better controls the size and number density of the nanochannels and, thereby, converts them into an effective membrane. The nanoparticle and functionalization induce a piezoelectric β-phase in the membrane. The functionalized membrane removes the radioactive nuclide like ²⁴¹Am⁺³ (α-emitting source) efficiently (∼80% or 0.35 μg/cm²) from its solution/waste. This membrane act as a corrosion inhibitor (92% inhibition efficiency) together with its higher proton conduction (0.13 S/m) ability. The higher ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, ion conduction, and high sorption by the nanohybrid membrane are explored with respect to the extent of functionalization and control over nanochannel dimension. A membrane electrode assembly has been fabricated to construct a complete fuel cell, which exhibits superior power generation (power density of 45 mW/cm² at a current density of 298 mA/cm²) much higher than that of the standard Nafion, measured in a similar condition. Further, a piezoelectric matrix along with its anticorrosive property, high sorption characteristics, and greater power generation makes this class of material a smart membrane that can be used for many different applications.