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Lebedev VT, Kulvelis YV, Shvidchenko AV, Primachenko ON, Odinokov AS, Marinenko EA, Kuklin AI, Ivankov OI. Electrochemical Properties and Structure of Membranes from Perfluorinated Copolymers Modified with Nanodiamonds. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:850. [PMID: 37999338 PMCID: PMC10673602 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13110850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to design and research proton-conducting membranes based on Aquivion®-type material that had been modified with detonation nanodiamonds (particle size 4-5 nm, 0.25-5.0 wt. %). These nanodiamonds carried different functional groups (H, OH, COOH, F) that provided the hydrophilicity of the diamond surface with positive or negative potential, or that strengthened the hydrophobicity of the diamonds. These variations in diamond properties allowed us to find ways to improve the composite structure so as to achieve better ion conductivity. For this purpose, we prepared three series of membrane films by first casting solutions of perfluorinated Aquivion®-type copolymers with short side chains mixed with diamonds dispersed on solid substrates. Then, we removed the solvent and the membranes were structurally stabilized during thermal treatment and transformed into their final form with -SO3H ionic groups. We found that the diamonds with a hydrogen-saturated surface, with a positive charge in aqueous media, contributed to the increase in proton conductivity of membranes to a greater rate. Meanwhile, a more developed conducting diamond-copolymer interface was formed due to electrostatic attraction to the sulfonic acid groups of the copolymer than in the case of diamonds grafted with negatively charged carboxyls, similar to sulfonic groups of the copolymer. The modification of membranes with fluorinated diamonds led to a 5-fold decrease in the conductivity of the composite, even when only a fraction of diamonds of 1 wt. % were used, which was explained by the disruption in the connectivity of ion channels during the interaction of such diamonds mainly with fluorocarbon chains of the copolymer. We discussed the specifics of the mechanism of conductivity in composites with various diamonds in connection with structural data obtained in neutron scattering experiments on dry membranes, as well as ideas about the formation of cylindrical micelles with central ion channels and shells composed of hydrophobic copolymer chains. Finally, the characteristics of the network of ion channels in the composites were found depending on the type and amount of introduced diamonds, and correlations between the structure and conductivity of the membranes were established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily T. Lebedev
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia
| | - Yuri V. Kulvelis
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia
| | | | - Oleg N. Primachenko
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.N.P.); (E.A.M.)
| | - Alexei S. Odinokov
- Russian Research Center of Applied Chemistry, 193232 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Elena A. Marinenko
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.N.P.); (E.A.M.)
| | - Alexander I. Kuklin
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia; (A.I.K.); (O.I.I.)
| | - Oleksandr I. Ivankov
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia; (A.I.K.); (O.I.I.)
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Shvidchenko AV, Odinokov AS, Primachenko ON, Gofman IV, Yevlampieva NP, Marinenko EA, Lebedev VT, Kuklin AI, Kulvelis YV. Improving PFSA Membranes Using Sulfonated Nanodiamonds. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:712. [PMID: 37623774 PMCID: PMC10456736 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13080712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Aquivion®-type perfluorosulfonic acid membranes with a polytetrafluoroethylene backbone and short side chains with sulfonic acid groups at the ends have great prospects for operating in hydrogen fuel cells. To improve the conducting properties of membranes, various types of nanofillers can be used. We prepared compositional Aquivion®-type membranes with embedded detonation nanodiamond particles. Nanodiamonds were chemically modified with sulfonic acid groups to increase the entire amount of ionogenic groups involved in the proton conductivity mechanism in compositional membranes. We demonstrated the rise of proton conductivity at 0.5-2 wt.% of sulfonated nanodiamonds in membranes, which was accompanied by good mechanical properties. The basic structural elements, conducting channels in membranes, were not destroyed in the presence of nanodiamonds, as follows from small-angle neutron scattering data. The prepared compositional membranes can be used in hydrogen fuel cells to achieve improved performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexei S. Odinokov
- Russian Research Center of Applied Chemistry, 193232 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Oleg N. Primachenko
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.N.P.); (I.V.G.); (E.A.M.)
| | - Iosif V. Gofman
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.N.P.); (I.V.G.); (E.A.M.)
| | | | - Elena A. Marinenko
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.N.P.); (I.V.G.); (E.A.M.)
| | - Vasily T. Lebedev
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia;
| | - Alexander I. Kuklin
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia;
| | - Yuri V. Kulvelis
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia;
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Primachenko ON, Kulvelis YV, Odinokov AS, Glebova NV, Krasnova AO, Antokolskiy LA, Nechitailov AA, Shvidchenko AV, Gofman IV, Marinenko EA, Yevlampieva NP, Lebedev VT, Kuklin AI. New Generation of Compositional Aquivion ®-Type Membranes with Nanodiamonds for Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Design and Performance. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:827. [PMID: 36135846 PMCID: PMC9504429 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12090827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Compositional proton-conducting membranes based on perfluorinated Aquivion®-type copolymers modified by detonation nanodiamonds (DND) with positively charged surfaces were prepared to improve the performance of hydrogen fuel cells. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments demonstrated the fine structure in such membranes filled with DND (0-5 wt.%), where the conducting channels typical for Aquivion® membranes are mostly preserved while DND particles (4-5 nm in size) decorated the polymer domains on a submicron scale, according to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data. With the increase in DND content (0, 0.5, and 2.6 wt.%) the thermogravimetric analysis, potentiometry, potentiodynamic, and potentiotatic curves showed a stabilizing effect of the DNDs on the operational characteristics of the membranes. Membrane-electrode assemblies (MEA), working in the O2/H2 system with the membranes of different compositions, demonstrated improved functional properties of the modified membranes, such as larger operational stability, lower proton resistance, and higher current densities at elevated temperatures in the extended temperature range (22-120 °C) compared to pure membranes without additives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg N. Primachenko
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yuri V. Kulvelis
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B. P. Konstantinov of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia
| | - Alexei S. Odinokov
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Russian Research Center of Applied Chemistry, 193232 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Iosif V. Gofman
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena A. Marinenko
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Vasily T. Lebedev
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B. P. Konstantinov of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia
| | - Alexander I. Kuklin
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia
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Monopoli A, Casiello M, Cotugno P, Milella A, Palumbo F, Fracassi F, Nacci A. Synthesis of Tailored Perfluoro Unsaturated Monomers for Potential Applications in Proton Exchange Membrane Preparation. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26185592. [PMID: 34577063 PMCID: PMC8470954 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26185592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present work is the synthesis and characterization of new perfluorinated monomers bearing, similarly to Nafion®, acidic groups for proton transport for potential and future applications in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. To this end, we focused our attention on the synthesis of various molecules with (i) sufficient volatility to be used in vacuum polymerization techniques (e.g., PECVD)), (ii) sulfonic, phosphonic, or carboxylic acid functionalities for proton transport capacity of the resulting membrane, (iii) both aliphatic and aromatic perfluorinated tags to diversify the membrane polarity with respect to Nafion®, and (iv) a double bond to facilitate the polymerization under vacuum giving a preferential way for the chain growth of the polymer. A retrosynthetic approach persuaded us to attempt three main synthetic strategies: (a) organometallic Heck-type cross-coupling, (b) nucleophilic displacement, and (c) Wittig–Horner reaction (carbanion approach). Preliminary results on the plasma deposition of a polymeric film are also presented. The variation of plasma conditions allowed us to point out that the film prepared in the mildest settings (20 W) shows the maximum monomer retention in its structure. In this condition, plasma polymerization likely occurs mainly by rupture of the π bond in the monomer molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Monopoli
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.C.); (P.C.); (A.M.); (F.F.); (A.N.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Michele Casiello
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.C.); (P.C.); (A.M.); (F.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Pietro Cotugno
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.C.); (P.C.); (A.M.); (F.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Antonella Milella
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.C.); (P.C.); (A.M.); (F.F.); (A.N.)
- CNR-NANOTEC c/o Department of Chemistry, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Fabio Palumbo
- CNR-NANOTEC c/o Department of Chemistry, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Francesco Fracassi
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.C.); (P.C.); (A.M.); (F.F.); (A.N.)
- CNR-NANOTEC c/o Department of Chemistry, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Angelo Nacci
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.C.); (P.C.); (A.M.); (F.F.); (A.N.)
- CNR—Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (ICCOM), Bari Section, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
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Kulvelis YV, Primachenko ON, Gofman IV, Odinokov AS, Shvidchenko AV, Yudina EB, Marinenko EA, Lebedev VT, Vul AY. Modification of the mechanism of proton conductivity of the perfluorinated membrane copolymer by nanodiamonds. Russ Chem Bull 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-021-3274-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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