Trifluoromethanesulfonimide-based hygroscopic semi-interpenetrating polymer network for enhanced proton conductivity of nafion-based proton exchange membranes at low humidity
Type
ArticleKAUST Department
Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Research CenterPhysical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division
Date
2020-06-27Online Publication Date
2020-06-27Print Publication Date
2020-10Submitted Date
2019-12-02Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/664167
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In this study, a super acid with impressive hygroscopicity, 1-[3-(methacryloyloxy)propylsulfonyl]-1-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (MPTI), is exploited to improve the proton conductivity of PEMs at low humidity. Importantly, MPTI can deliquesce into an aqueous solution by capturing moisture from air at a considerable rate. Investigation of the hygroscopicity of MPTI and the corresponding mechanism by molecular dynamics simulation show a total interaction energy between MPTI and water of −368.13 kJ mol−1, which greatly exceeds those of model derivatives with other typical hygroscopic groups. To apply MPTI in PEMs and prevent leakage, MPTI is incorporated into a semi-interpenetrating polymer network via in situ polymerization, and Nafion-based composite membranes are fabricated. The water uptake of the obtained hybrid membranes is substantially increased by up to 66.61% at 40% RH and 90.04% at 95% RH. This optimization of the water environment facilitates the dissociation of protons and the formation of hydrogen bond networks for high-speed proton conduction. As a result, the proton conductivity of the membranes increases by up to two orders of magnitude at low humidity. Notably, this composite membrane enhanced the performance of a single fuel cell at 60% RH by 41.9%.Citation
Sun, S., Ling, L., Xiong, Y., Zhang, Y., & Li, Z. (2020). Trifluoromethanesulfonimide-based hygroscopic semi-interpenetrating polymer network for enhanced proton conductivity of nafion-based proton exchange membranes at low humidity. Journal of Membrane Science, 612, 118339. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118339Sponsors
We are grateful for support from the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program (52302300119). In addition, we thank Dr. Ying Li at the Tsinghua University Branch of China National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing) for technical assistance with preparing the ultramicrocuts. We also thank HEOWNS Biochem Technologies LLC for customizing MPTI.Publisher
Elsevier BVJournal
Journal of Membrane ScienceAdditional Links
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0376738820309170ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118339