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Lee CJ, Hong SJ, Song J, Yoon KS, Oh KH, Lee JY, Yoon SJ, Hong YT, Lee SY, Yu DM, So S. Porous Polyethylene Supports in Reinforcement of Multiblock Hydrocarbon Ionomers for Proton Exchange Membranes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:18834-18845. [PMID: 38091527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Hydrocarbon (HC)-based block copolymers have been recognized as promising candidates for proton exchange membranes (PEMs) due to their distinct hydrophilic-hydrophobic separation, which results in improved proton transport compared to that of random copolymers. However, most PEMs derived from HC-based ionomers, including block copolymers, encounter challenges related to durability in electrochemical cells due to their low mechanical and chemical properties. One method for reinforcing HC-based ionomers involves incorporating the ionomers into commercially available low surface tension PTFE porous substrates. Nevertheless, the high interfacial energy between the hydrocarbon-based ionomer solution and PTFE remains a challenge in this reinforcement process, which necessitates the application of surface energy treatment to PTFE. Here, multiblock sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) ionomers are being reinforced using untreated PE on the surface, and this is compared to reinforcement using surface-treated porous PTFE. The PE support layer exhibits a lower surface energy barrier compared to the surface-treated PTFE layer for the infiltration of the multiblock SPAES solution. This is characterized by the absence of noticeable voids, high translucency, gas impermeability, and a physical and chemical stability. By utilizing a high surface tension PE support with a comparable value to the multiblock SPAES, effective reinforcement of the multiblock SPAES ionomers is achieved for a PEM, which is potentially applicable to various hydrogen energy-based electrochemical cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Jin Lee
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea
| | - Seung Jae Hong
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
| | - Jaeheon Song
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South Korea
| | - Kyung Seok Yoon
- R&D Center, W-SCOPE Korea Co., LTD., Cheongju 28122, South Korea
| | - Keun-Hwan Oh
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
| | - Jang Yong Lee
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
| | - Sang Jun Yoon
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
| | - Young Taik Hong
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
| | - Sang-Young Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea
| | - Duk Man Yu
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
| | - Soonyong So
- Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, South Korea
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Liu F, Kim IS, Miyatake K. Proton-conductive aromatic membranes reinforced with poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers for high-performance durable fuel cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg9057. [PMID: 37494437 PMCID: PMC10371013 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Durability and ion conductivity are counteracting properties of proton-conductive membranes that are challenging to achieve simultaneously and determine the lifetime and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Here, we developed aromatic ionomers reinforced with nonwoven poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers. Because of the right combination of an isotropic nonwoven PVDF with high porosity (78%) and partially fluorinated aromatic ionomers (SPP-TFP-4.0), the resulting composite membrane (SPP-TFP-4.0-PVDF) outperformed state-of-the-art chemically stabilized and physically reinforced perfluorinated Nafion XL membrane, in terms of fuel cell operation and in situ chemical stability at a high temperature (120°C) and low relative humidity (30%). The SPP-TFP-4.0-PVDF membrane exhibited excellent chemical stability and stable rupture energy at high and low RH levels, allowing it to be an alternative proton-conductive membrane to meet the U.S. Department of Energy target to be used in automobile fuel cells in 2025.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanghua Liu
- Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Ick S Kim
- Nano Fusion Technology Research Group, Institute for Fiber Engineering, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Nagano 380-8553, Japan
| | - Kenji Miyatake
- Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, and Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
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Zhang G, Wu L, Tongsh C, Qu Z, Wu S, Xie B, Huo W, Du Q, Wang H, An L, Wang N, Xuan J, Chen W, Xi F, Wang Z, Jiao K. Structure Design for Ultrahigh Power Density Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2201537. [PMID: 36609816 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202201537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation ultrahigh power density proton exchange membrane fuel cells rely not only on high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) but also on an optimal cell structure. To this end, this work comprehensively investigates the cell performance under various structures, and it is revealed that there is unexploited performance improvement in structure design because its positive effect enhancing gas supply is often inhibited by worse proton/electron conduction. Utilizing fine channel/rib or the porous flow field is feasible to eliminate the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and hence increase the power density significantly due to the decrease of cell thickness and gas/electron transfer resistances. The cell structure combining fine channel/rib, GDL elimination and double-cell structure is believed to increase the power density from 4.4 to 6.52 kW L-1 with the existing MEA, showing nearly equal importance with the new MEA development in achieving the target of 9.0 kW L-1 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Lizhen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Chasen Tongsh
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Zhiguo Qu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Siyuan Wu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Biao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Wenming Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Qing Du
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Huizhi Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Liang An
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ning Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Jin Xuan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK
| | | | - Fuqiang Xi
- Weichai Power Co. Ltd. , Weifang, 261016, China
| | - Zhixin Wang
- Weichai Power Co. Ltd. , Weifang, 261016, China
| | - Kui Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- National Industry-Education Platform of Energy Storage, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
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Chen PY, Chiu TH, Lin FJ, Chen JC. Polybenzimidazole membranes derived from novel tetraamines containing 2,2′-disubstituted biphenyl structures for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell application. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Long Z, Miyatake K. Protocol for synthesis and characterization of ePTFE reinforced, sulfonated polyphenylene in the application to proton exchange membrane fuel cells. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101049. [PMID: 34977688 PMCID: PMC8689346 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfonated polyphenylenes (SPPs) are one of the most promising polymers as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells (PEMFCs) because of their high proton conductivity, gas impermeability, and chemical and thermal stability. Mechanical stability needs further improvement for practical applications. Here we describe a protocol for the preparation and characterization of tetrafluorophenylene-containing SPP (SPP-TP-f) membranes reinforced with double porous ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) thin layers. The protocol also includes performance and durability evaluation of fuel cells using the reinforced membranes. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Long and Miyatake (2021a).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Long
- Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Kenji Miyatake
- Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
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