Effects of the Chemical Treatment on the Physical-Chemical and Electrochemical Properties of the Commercial Nafion™ NR212 Membrane |
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Authors: | Enza Passalacqua,Rolando Pedicini,Alessandra Carbone,Irene Gatto,Fabio Matera,Assunta Patti,Ada Saccà |
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Affiliation: | National Research Council, Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano” (CNR-ITAE), via Santa Lucia Sopra Contesse, 5, 98126 Messina (ME), Italy; (R.P.); (A.C.); (I.G.); (F.M.); (A.P.); (A.S.) |
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Abstract: | Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) are one of the most promising power generation systems. The main component of a PEFC is the proton exchange membrane (PEM), object of intense research to improve the efficiency of the cell. The most commonly and commercially successful used PEMs are Nafion™ perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes, taken as a reference for the development of innovative and alternative membranes. Usually, these membranes undergo different pre-treatments to enhance their characteristics. With the aim of understanding the utility and the effects of such pre-treatments, in this study, a commercial Nafion™ NR212 membrane was subjected to two different chemical pre-treatments, before usage. HNO3 or H2O2 were selected as chemical agents because the most widely used ones in the procedure protocols in order to prepare the membrane in a well-defined reference state. The pre-treated membranes properties were compared to an untreated membrane, used as-received. The investigation has showed that the pre-treatments enhance the hydrophilicity and increase the water molecules coordinated to the sulphonic groups in the membrane structure, on the other hand the swelling of the membranes also increases. As a consequence, the untreated membrane shows a better mechanical resistance, a good electrochemical performance and durability in fuel cell operations, orienting toward the use of the NR212 membrane without any chemical pre-treatment. |
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Keywords: | chemical treatments, membrane degradation, nafion™ NR212, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, polymer exchange membranes, water uptake |
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