Phosphate-Modified TiO2/ZrO2 Nanofibrous Web Composite Membrane for Enhanced Performance and Durability of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Chanmin Lee; Jeongho Park; Yukwon Jeon; Joo Il Park; Hisahiro Einaga; Yen B. Truong; Illias L. Kyratzis; Isao Mochida; Jonghyun Choi; Yong Gun Shul

doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00941

Phosphate-Modified TiO₂/ZrO₂ Nanofibrous Web Composite Membrane for Enhanced Performance and Durability of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Chanmin Lee, Jeongho Park, Yukwon Jeon, Joo Il Park, Hisahiro Einaga, Yen B. Truong, Illias L. Kyratzis, Isao Mochida, Jonghyun Choi, Yong Gun Shul

Functional Materials Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An Aquivion/titanium zirconium oxide nanofibrous web composite membrane was prepared and tested as a proton exchange membrane in a hydrogen/air fuel cell. The incorporation of a small dose (9 wt % membrane) of a uniformly distributed electrospun titanium zirconium oxide (TiO₂/ZrO₂; Ti/Zr = 1:1 atomic ratio) nanofibrous web significantly improved hydromechanical stability of the composite membranes, which exhibited approximately 2 times higher water retention and 30 times lower dimensional change than a pristine Aquivion membrane under in-water membrane hydration conditions. Phosphate functionalities were successfully added onto the nanofiber surface, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The added phosphate functionality resulted in higher proton conductivity of the prepared composite membrane compared to the non-modified TiO₂/ZrO₂ nanofibrous web composite membrane [e.g., 0.027 S cm^-1 versus 0.021 S cm^-1 at 120°C and 40% relative humidity (RH)]. A single cell test also showed the effect of an added TiO₂/ZrO₂ nanofibrous web. A single cell with an Aquivion/TiO₂/ZrO₂ nanofibrous web composite membrane outperformed a single cell with a pristine Aquivion membrane in fully humidified conditions (100% RH at 75 and 90°C). The Aquivion/phosphate-modified TiO₂/ZrO₂ nanofibrous web composite membrane showed the best single cell performance at all four testing conditions, including the fully humidified medium-temperature conditions (e.g., P_max = 1.18 W cm^-2 at 75°C and 100% RH, and P_max = 0.97 W cm^-2 at 90°C and 100% RH) and partially humidified high-temperature conditions (P_max = 0.45 W cm^-2 at 120°C and 40% RH, and P_max = 0.21 W cm^-2 at 140°C and 20% RH). The composite membrane also displayed excellent durability evidenced by the accelerated lifetime (ALT) test results. Overall, the phosphate-modified TiO₂/ZrO₂ nanofibrous web composite membrane enhanced the electrical properties and durability of the fuel cell, especially at high temperatures (>120°C).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	7645-7652
Number of pages	8
Journal	Energy and Fuels
Volume	31
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00941
Publication status	Published - Jul 20 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Chemical Engineering(all)
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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Lee, C., Park, J., Jeon, Y., Park, J. I., Einaga, H., Truong, Y. B., Kyratzis, I. L., Mochida, I., Choi, J., & Shul, Y. G. (2017). Phosphate-Modified TiO₂/ZrO₂ Nanofibrous Web Composite Membrane for Enhanced Performance and Durability of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Energy and Fuels, 31(7), 7645-7652. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00941

@article{7cb9fc7568f84e5fbabf1aeae20cae70,

title = "Phosphate-Modified TiO2/ZrO2 Nanofibrous Web Composite Membrane for Enhanced Performance and Durability of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells",

abstract = "An Aquivion/titanium zirconium oxide nanofibrous web composite membrane was prepared and tested as a proton exchange membrane in a hydrogen/air fuel cell. The incorporation of a small dose (9 wt % membrane) of a uniformly distributed electrospun titanium zirconium oxide (TiO2/ZrO2; Ti/Zr = 1:1 atomic ratio) nanofibrous web significantly improved hydromechanical stability of the composite membranes, which exhibited approximately 2 times higher water retention and 30 times lower dimensional change than a pristine Aquivion membrane under in-water membrane hydration conditions. Phosphate functionalities were successfully added onto the nanofiber surface, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The added phosphate functionality resulted in higher proton conductivity of the prepared composite membrane compared to the non-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane [e.g., 0.027 S cm-1 versus 0.021 S cm-1 at 120°C and 40% relative humidity (RH)]. A single cell test also showed the effect of an added TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web. A single cell with an Aquivion/TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane outperformed a single cell with a pristine Aquivion membrane in fully humidified conditions (100% RH at 75 and 90°C). The Aquivion/phosphate-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane showed the best single cell performance at all four testing conditions, including the fully humidified medium-temperature conditions (e.g., Pmax = 1.18 W cm-2 at 75°C and 100% RH, and Pmax = 0.97 W cm-2 at 90°C and 100% RH) and partially humidified high-temperature conditions (Pmax = 0.45 W cm-2 at 120°C and 40% RH, and Pmax = 0.21 W cm-2 at 140°C and 20% RH). The composite membrane also displayed excellent durability evidenced by the accelerated lifetime (ALT) test results. Overall, the phosphate-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane enhanced the electrical properties and durability of the fuel cell, especially at high temperatures (>120°C).",

author = "Chanmin Lee and Jeongho Park and Yukwon Jeon and Park, {Joo Il} and Hisahiro Einaga and Truong, {Yen B.} and Kyratzis, {Illias L.} and Isao Mochida and Jonghyun Choi and Shul, {Yong Gun}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by the Technology Development Program to Solve Climate Changes of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2015M1A2A2056833). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 American Chemical Society.",

year = "2017",

month = jul,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00941",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "7645--7652",

journal = "Energy & Fuels",

issn = "0887-0624",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "7",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Phosphate-Modified TiO2/ZrO2 Nanofibrous Web Composite Membrane for Enhanced Performance and Durability of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

AU - Lee, Chanmin

AU - Park, Jeongho

AU - Jeon, Yukwon

AU - Park, Joo Il

AU - Einaga, Hisahiro

AU - Truong, Yen B.

AU - Kyratzis, Illias L.

AU - Mochida, Isao

AU - Choi, Jonghyun

AU - Shul, Yong Gun

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by the Technology Development Program to Solve Climate Changes of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2015M1A2A2056833). Publisher Copyright: © 2017 American Chemical Society.

PY - 2017/7/20

Y1 - 2017/7/20

N2 - An Aquivion/titanium zirconium oxide nanofibrous web composite membrane was prepared and tested as a proton exchange membrane in a hydrogen/air fuel cell. The incorporation of a small dose (9 wt % membrane) of a uniformly distributed electrospun titanium zirconium oxide (TiO2/ZrO2; Ti/Zr = 1:1 atomic ratio) nanofibrous web significantly improved hydromechanical stability of the composite membranes, which exhibited approximately 2 times higher water retention and 30 times lower dimensional change than a pristine Aquivion membrane under in-water membrane hydration conditions. Phosphate functionalities were successfully added onto the nanofiber surface, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The added phosphate functionality resulted in higher proton conductivity of the prepared composite membrane compared to the non-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane [e.g., 0.027 S cm-1 versus 0.021 S cm-1 at 120°C and 40% relative humidity (RH)]. A single cell test also showed the effect of an added TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web. A single cell with an Aquivion/TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane outperformed a single cell with a pristine Aquivion membrane in fully humidified conditions (100% RH at 75 and 90°C). The Aquivion/phosphate-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane showed the best single cell performance at all four testing conditions, including the fully humidified medium-temperature conditions (e.g., Pmax = 1.18 W cm-2 at 75°C and 100% RH, and Pmax = 0.97 W cm-2 at 90°C and 100% RH) and partially humidified high-temperature conditions (Pmax = 0.45 W cm-2 at 120°C and 40% RH, and Pmax = 0.21 W cm-2 at 140°C and 20% RH). The composite membrane also displayed excellent durability evidenced by the accelerated lifetime (ALT) test results. Overall, the phosphate-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane enhanced the electrical properties and durability of the fuel cell, especially at high temperatures (>120°C).

AB - An Aquivion/titanium zirconium oxide nanofibrous web composite membrane was prepared and tested as a proton exchange membrane in a hydrogen/air fuel cell. The incorporation of a small dose (9 wt % membrane) of a uniformly distributed electrospun titanium zirconium oxide (TiO2/ZrO2; Ti/Zr = 1:1 atomic ratio) nanofibrous web significantly improved hydromechanical stability of the composite membranes, which exhibited approximately 2 times higher water retention and 30 times lower dimensional change than a pristine Aquivion membrane under in-water membrane hydration conditions. Phosphate functionalities were successfully added onto the nanofiber surface, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The added phosphate functionality resulted in higher proton conductivity of the prepared composite membrane compared to the non-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane [e.g., 0.027 S cm-1 versus 0.021 S cm-1 at 120°C and 40% relative humidity (RH)]. A single cell test also showed the effect of an added TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web. A single cell with an Aquivion/TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane outperformed a single cell with a pristine Aquivion membrane in fully humidified conditions (100% RH at 75 and 90°C). The Aquivion/phosphate-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane showed the best single cell performance at all four testing conditions, including the fully humidified medium-temperature conditions (e.g., Pmax = 1.18 W cm-2 at 75°C and 100% RH, and Pmax = 0.97 W cm-2 at 90°C and 100% RH) and partially humidified high-temperature conditions (Pmax = 0.45 W cm-2 at 120°C and 40% RH, and Pmax = 0.21 W cm-2 at 140°C and 20% RH). The composite membrane also displayed excellent durability evidenced by the accelerated lifetime (ALT) test results. Overall, the phosphate-modified TiO2/ZrO2 nanofibrous web composite membrane enhanced the electrical properties and durability of the fuel cell, especially at high temperatures (>120°C).

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U2 - 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00941

DO - 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00941

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SN - 0887-0624

VL - 31

SP - 7645

EP - 7652

JO - Energy & Fuels

JF - Energy & Fuels

IS - 7

ER -

Phosphate-Modified TiO₂/ZrO₂ Nanofibrous Web Composite Membrane for Enhanced Performance and Durability of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

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