greeen technology; green energy; fuel cell; carbon nanotube
Abstract :
[en] Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed by melt-extrusion within Nafion(R) membranes in order to decrease the methanol permeability without deleterious effect on the ionic conductivity. The risk of short-circuits was minimized by keeping the carbon nanotubes content lower than the percolation threshold. Two series of carbon nanotubes grafted by carboxylic acid groups were used, i.e., commercially available carbon nanotubes and MWCNTs home-grafted by carboxylic acid containing alkyl radicals. The second series of nanotubes were more resistant to break-up during melt-processing. Methanol permeability was decreased by approximately 60% without any decrease in the ionic conductivity. In parallel, the Young's modulus was increased by 140% and 160% as compared to pure Nafion(R) at MWCNT contents of 1 and 2 wt%, respectively.
Research center :
Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Disciplines :
Chemical engineering Materials science & engineering Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Thomassin, Jean-Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Kollar, Jozef; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Caldarella, Giuseppe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Applied Chemistry > Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry
Germain, Albert ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Applied Chemistry > Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry
Jérôme, Robert ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Detrembleur, Christophe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Language :
English
Title :
Beneficial effect of carbon nanotubes on the performances of Nafion membranes in fuel cell applications
BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] The Région wallonne in the frame of the “Pile à combustible” program INNOPILE
Commentary :
The authors acknowledge Journal of Membrane Science (Elsevier) for allowing them to archive this paper.
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