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Brito Dos Santos F, Kaschuk J, Banvillet G, Jalaee A, Rojas OJ, Foster EJ. Alternative proton exchange membrane based on a bicomponent anionic nanocellulose system. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 340:122299. [PMID: 38858022 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
As integral parts of fuel cells, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) facilitate the conversion of hydrogen's chemical energy into electricity and water. Unfortunately, commercial PEMs are associated with high costs, limited durability, variable electrochemical performance and are based on perfluorinated polymers that persist in the environment. Nanocellulose-based PEMs have emerged as alternative options given their renewability, thermal and mechanical stability, low-cost, and hydrophilicity. These PEMs take advantage of the anionic nature of most nanocelluloses, as well as their facile modification with conductive functional groups, for instance, to endow ionic and electron conductivity. Herein, we incorporated for the first time two nanocellulose types, TEMPO-oxidized and sulfonated, to produce a fully bio-based PEM and studied their contribution separately and when mixed in a PEM matrix. Sulfonated nanocellulose-based PEMs are shown to perform similarly to commercial and bio-based membranes, demonstrating good thermal-oxidative stability (up to 190 °C), mechanical robustness (Young's modulus as high as 1.15 GPa and storage moduli >13 GPa), and high moisture-uptake capacity (ca. 6330 % after 48 h). The introduced nanocellulose membranes are shown as promising materials for proton-exchange material applications, as required in fuel cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Brito Dos Santos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3; Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, 2360 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Joice Kaschuk
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3; Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland; Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, 6708, WE, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Gabriel Banvillet
- Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, 2360 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Adel Jalaee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Orlando J Rojas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3; Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, 2360 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - E Johan Foster
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3; Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, 2360 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Lee CY, Chen CH, Yang CY, Chen WT. An Internal Real-Time Microscopic Diagnosis of a Proton Battery Stack during Charging and Discharging. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:ma16093507. [PMID: 37176390 PMCID: PMC10180164 DOI: 10.3390/ma16093507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The proton battery has facilitated a new research direction for technologies related to fuel cells and energy storage. Our R&D team has developed a prototype of a proton battery stack, but there are still problems to be solved, such as leakage and unstable power generation. Moreover, it is unlikely that the multiple important physical parameters inside the proton battery stack can be measured accurately and simultaneously. At present, external or single measurements represent the bottleneck, yet the multiple important physical parameters (oxygen, hydrogen, voltage, current, temperature, flow, and humidity) are interrelated and have a significant impact on the performance, life, and safety of the proton battery stack. This research uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a micro oxygen sensor and integrates the six-in-one microsensor that our R&D team previously developed in order to improve sensor output and facilitate overall operation by redesigning the incremental mask and having this co-operate with a flexible board for sensor back-end integration, completing the development of a flexible seven-in-one (oxygen, hydrogen, voltage, current, temperature, flow, and humidity) microsensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Yuan Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze Fuel Cell Center, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 32003, Taiwan
| | | | - Chin-Yuan Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze Fuel Cell Center, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 32003, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ting Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze Fuel Cell Center, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 32003, Taiwan
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Jia M, Kim J, Nguyen T, Duong T, Rolandi M. Natural biopolymers as proton conductors in bioelectronics. Biopolymers 2021; 112:e23433. [PMID: 34022064 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Bioelectronic devices sense or deliver information at the interface between living systems and electronics by converting biological signals into electronic signals and vice-versa. Biological signals are typically carried by ions and small molecules. As such, ion conducting materials are ideal candidates in bioelectronics for an optimal interface. Among these materials, ion conducting polymers that are able to uptake water are particularly interesting because, in addition to ionic conductivity, their mechanical properties can closely match the ones of living tissue. In this review, we focus on a specific subset of ion-conducting polymers: proton (H+ ) conductors that are naturally derived. We first provide a brief introduction of the proton conduction mechanism, and then outline the chemical structure and properties of representative proton-conducting natural biopolymers: polysaccharides (chitosan and glycosaminoglycans), peptides and proteins, and melanin. We then highlight examples of using these biopolymers in bioelectronic devices. We conclude with current challenges and future prospects for broader use of natural biopolymers as proton conductors in bioelectronics and potential translational applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manping Jia
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Jinhwan Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Tiffany Nguyen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Thi Duong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA.,Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Marco Rolandi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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Vilela C, Morais JD, Silva ACQ, Muñoz-Gil D, Figueiredo FML, Silvestre AJD, Freire CSR. Flexible Nanocellulose/Lignosulfonates Ion-Conducting Separators for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10091713. [PMID: 32872554 PMCID: PMC7557763 DOI: 10.3390/nano10091713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The utilization of biobased materials for the fabrication of naturally derived ion-exchange membranes is breezing a path to sustainable separators for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In this investigation, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC, a bacterial polysaccharide) and lignosulfonates (LS, a by-product of the sulfite pulping process), were blended by diffusion of an aqueous solution of the lignin derivative and of the natural-based cross-linker tannic acid into the wet BNC nanofibrous three-dimensional structure, to produce fully biobased ion-exchange membranes. These freestanding separators exhibited good thermal-oxidative stability of up to about 200 °C, in both inert and oxidative atmospheres (N2 and O2, respectively), high mechanical properties with a maximum Young’s modulus of around 8.2 GPa, as well as good moisture-uptake capacity with a maximum value of ca. 78% after 48 h for the membrane with the higher LS content. Moreover, the combination of the conducting LS with the mechanically robust BNC conveyed ionic conductivity to the membranes, namely a maximum of 23 mS cm−1 at 94 °C and 98% relative humidity (RH) (in-plane configuration), that increased with increasing RH. Hence, these robust water-mediated ion conductors represent an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional ion-exchange membranes for application in PEFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Vilela
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.M.); (A.C.Q.S.); (A.J.D.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.V.); (C.S.R.F.)
| | - João D. Morais
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.M.); (A.C.Q.S.); (A.J.D.S.)
| | - Ana Cristina Q. Silva
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.M.); (A.C.Q.S.); (A.J.D.S.)
| | - Daniel Muñoz-Gil
- Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (D.M.-G.); (F.M.L.F.)
| | - Filipe M. L. Figueiredo
- Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (D.M.-G.); (F.M.L.F.)
| | - Armando J. D. Silvestre
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.M.); (A.C.Q.S.); (A.J.D.S.)
| | - Carmen S. R. Freire
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.M.); (A.C.Q.S.); (A.J.D.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.V.); (C.S.R.F.)
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