A phosphotungstic acid self-anchored hybrid proton exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cells

作者：Xu, Xin; Wang, Haining; Lu, Shanfu^*; Peng, Sikan; Xiang, Yan^*

来源：RSC Advances, 2016, 6(49): 43049-43055.

DOI：10.1039/c6ra07318b

• SILICA COMPOSITE MEMBRANE
• ETHER KETONE) MEMBRANES
• GRAPHENE OXIDE PAPER
• HIGH-PERFORMANCE
• FABRICATION
• ELECTROLYTE
• CATALYSTS
• DMFCS

A phosphotungstic acid (HPW) self-anchored hybrid proton exchange membrane (PES/PVP-HPW) is prepared and evaluated in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The proton conductivity of the hybrid membrane is 0.045 S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C, and reaches 0.078 S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C. The hybrid membrane shows a methanol permeability of 1.65 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1). The stability test for the hybrid membrane in 2 M methanol at 50 degrees C for about 100 h reveals that HPW is well immobilized in the hybrid membrane. The DMFC based on the PES/PVP-HPW hybrid membrane with a thickness of 55 mm exhibits comparable performance of 132 mW cm(-2) to that of Nafion212 at 80 degrees C. The effects of the hybrid membrane thickness and methanol concentration on DMFCs performance are evaluated. The optimal methanol concentration and thickness of the membrane is about 1-2 M and 55 mu m, respectively. Furthermore, a 130 h stability test for DMFC with PES/PVP-HPW demonstrates that the hybrid membrane is quite stable, which indicates that PES/PVP-HPW is an attractive low-cost alternative proton exchange membrane to Nafion (R) for portable power sources.

• 出版日期2016
• 单位北京航空航天大学