Zirconium phosphates (ZrP) were incorporated into Nafion® 117 membrane by impregnating method to obtain a reduced methanol permeation and improved proton conductivity for fuel cell application. The mechanical properties and water uptake of Nafion® membrane incorporated with zirconium phosphates nanoparticles was more improvement when compared to the commercial Nafion® 117, due to the presence of phosphoric acid within the nanoparticles. The effect of ZrP nano filler on the membrane structural morphology and thermal properties were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The improved ion conductivity and decreased methanol permeability on the nanocomposite membranes showed a great potential for fuel cell applications. The nanocomposite membrane with high tensile strength was obtained due to the well dispersed zirconium phosphates within the Nafion® matrix.
Reference:
Sigwadi, R. et al. 2019. The proton conductivity and mechanical properties of Nafion/ ZrP nanocomposite membrane. Heliyon, vol. 5(8): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02240
Sigwadi, R., Dhlamini, M., Mokrani, T., Nemavhola, F., Nonjola, P. N., & Msomi, P. (2019). The proton conductivity and mechanical properties of Nafion®/ ZrP nanocomposite membrane. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11393
Sigwadi, R, MS Dhlamini, T Mokrani, F Nemavhola, Patrick NT Nonjola, and PF Msomi. "The proton conductivity and mechanical properties of Nafion®/ ZrP nanocomposite membrane." (2019): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11393
Sigwadi R, Dhlamini M, Mokrani T, Nemavhola F, Nonjola PN, Msomi P, The proton conductivity and mechanical properties of Nafion®/ ZrP nanocomposite membrane; 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11393 .
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