SnO2 nanocubes/bentonite modified SPEEK nanocomposite composite membrane for high performance and durable direct methanol fuel cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Abstract
Tin oxide nanocubes/sulfonated bentonite (SnO2/sBH) nanocomposite blended with acidified poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) solid state electrolyte is developed for DMFCs. Morphological investigations reveal the existence of SnO2 nanocubes on sheet-like structure of sBH and the uniform dispersion of above composite on SPEEK matrix. The layered sheet-like structure of BH act as heat diffusion barrier and the ceramic feature of SnO2 further improves the thermal stability of a SPEEK membrane. The exposed large surface area of BH and tightly bound water molecules in SnO2 and -SO3H sites increase the water retention properties, which consequently enhance the ionic conductivity of SPEEK/sBH/SnO2 composite membrane. Furthermore, the high aspect ratio of sBH and methanol resistive characteristic of SnO2 lower the methanol diffusion channels in the sBH/SnO2 composite membrane. With the coalition of above significant electrochemical properties, SPEEK/sBH/SnO2 solid electrolyte demonstrates the high DMFC power density and excellent durability, which showers light on the viability of prepared membrane in high performance and durable DMFCs. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
Aspect ratio, Bound water, Layered silicate, Nanocubes, Tortous path
Divisions
ocean
Funders
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi Major Project Grant No.: 01(2997)19/EMR-II,Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Research Group Project under grant number R.G.P.2/48/40
Publication Title
Solid State Ionics
Volume
353
Publisher
Elsevier