In Situ Fabrication of Nafion鈥揟itanate Hybrid Electrolytes for High-Temperature Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Bruno R. Matos ; Roberta A. Isidoro ; Elisabete I. Santiago ; Marcelo Linardi ; Andre S. Ferlauto ; Ana C. Tavares ; Fabio C. Fonseca
• 刊名：The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：August 22, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：117
• 期：33
• 页码：16863-16870
• 全文大小：484K
• 年卷期：v.117,no.33(August 22, 2013)
• ISSN：1932-7455

文摘

The synthesis and characterization of a novel Nafion-matrix nanocomposite by the in situ conversion of titania particles into titanate nanofilaments such as nanotubes and nanorods are reported. Titania nanoparticles grown inside Nafion hydrophilic domains were converted by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction into the proton conducting titanate nanotubes and nanorods. Detailed characterization by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy evidenced an intimate interaction between titanate nanostructures and the ionomer hydrophilic phase. The favored localization of such high aspect ratio nanofilaments in the ionic phase of Nafion has a marked impact on the properties of the composites. The experimental data showed enhanced mechanical stability at high temperature (130 掳C) that was correlated to a strong temperature dependence of the proton conductivity in the same temperature range. Such properties contributed to a significant increase of the performance of direct ethanol fuel cells operating at high temperature (130 掳C) using hybrid Nafion鈥搕itanate electrolytes compared to commercial Nafion.