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
Publication Title
Solid State Ionics
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
Volume
353
Publisher
Elsevier