Enhanced transport properties of graphene-based, thin Nafion (R) membrane for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
Asmatulu, Ramazan Khan, Aamer Adigoppula, Vinay Kumar Hwang, Gisuk
Asmatulu, Ramazan
Khan, Aamer
Adigoppula, Vinay Kumar
Hwang, Gisuk
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2018-02
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Article
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Keywords
Graphene,Nafion (R),Nanocomposite,Proton conductivity,Water contact angle
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Citation
Asmatulu R, Khan A, Adigoppula VK, Hwang G. Enhanced transport properties of graphene-based, thin Nafion® membrane for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Int J Energy Res. 2018;42:508–519
Abstract
A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one of the promising renewable energy conversion systems; however, its performance is considerably limited by the sluggish transport properties and/or reaction kinetics of the catalyst layers, especially at a high current density. In this study, graphene-based, thin Nafion (R) membranes are prepared using 0 to 4wt% of graphene nanoflakes, and the effects of the graphene are examined for enhanced transport properties. The electrical conductivity and dielectric constant are drastically enhanced to 0.4 mS/cm and 26 at 4 wt% of graphene nanoflakes, respectively, while the thermal conductivity linearly increases to 3 W/m-K. The proton conductivity also significantly increases with the aid of graphene nanoflakes at >2 wt% of graphene nanoflakes, and the enhancement doubles compared with those of the carbon-black (CB)-based and carbon nanotube (CNT)-based, thin Nafion (R) membranes, perhaps due to unique graphene structures. Additionally, the quasi-steady-state water contact angle increases from 113 degrees to similar to 130 degrees with the addition of graphene nanoflakes, showing that a hydrophobic-like water wetting change may be related to the significant proton conductivity enhancement. This work provides an optimal material design guideline for the transport-enhanced cathode catalyst layer using graphene-based materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications.
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Publisher
Wiley
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International Journal of Energy Research;v.42:no.2
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0363-907X