Enhancing Water Retention, Transport, and Conductivity Performance in Fuel Cell Applications: Nafion-Based Nanocomposite Membranes with Organomodified Graphene Oxide Nanoplatelets

Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman, Luigi Coppola, Ernestino Lufrano, Isabella Nicotera () and Cataldo Simari ()
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Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Luigi Coppola: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Ernestino Lufrano: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Isabella Nicotera: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Cataldo Simari: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: The synergistic combination of Nafion and sulfonated graphene oxide (GOsulf) in nanocomposite membranes emerged as a promising strategy for advancing proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology. In the pursuit of elucidating the effect of GOsulf introduction on transport properties and electrochemical performance of Nafion, this work provides a systematic study combining swelling tests, water release tests, 1 H NMR characterization, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) investigation. The incorporation of organomodified GO nanolayers alters the distribution of water molecules within the hydrophilic domains of Nafion and produces a considerable increase in the “bound-water” fraction. This increases its water retention capability while ensuring very high diffusivity even under high temperatures, i.e., 1.5 × 10 −5 cm 2 s −1 at 130 °C. These peculiar features enable Naf-GOsulf to successfully operate under a dehydrating environment, yielding a proton conductivity of 44.9 mS cm −1 at 30% RH.

Keywords: PEMFCs; nanocomposite membranes; sulfonated graphene oxide; 1 H NMR investigation; EIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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