Polymer based Membrane Electrospun Fiber in Fuel Cell Application: A Short Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazlina Junoh ◽  
Juhana Jaafar ◽  
M. H. D. Othman ◽  
Mukhlis A. Rahman

usage which contributes to the environmental issues. Among the type of existing renewable energy, fuel cells is the most promising renewable energy sources since the energy can be directly converted from combustible of fuel. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) is the heart of the fuel cells system. The research and development on proton electrolyte membrane is keep burgeoned. Even though the studies of the electrolyte nanocomposite membrane for fuel cell application are quite various but only a few studies focused on the effect of electrospun nanocomposite membrane on the performance of proton electrolyte membrane. This review is focusing on the electrospinning process for the preparation of electrospun fiber membrane. This review is concentrates on polymer based membrane electrospun nanofiber and their influence on proton conductivity as well as on fuel crossover barrier properties. The proton conductivity and fuel crossover can be improved by fully exfoliated structure of nanocomposite electrolyte membrane via electropinning process and thus the membrane can be an alternative PEM for DMFC applications.

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raja Rafidah R. S. ◽  
Rashmi W. ◽  
Khalid M. ◽  
Wong W. Y. ◽  
Priyanka J.

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) play a pivotal role in fuel cells; conducting protons from the anode to the cathode within the cell’s membrane electrode assembles (MEA) separates the reactant fuels and prevents electrons from passing through. High proton conductivity is the most important characteristic of the PEM, as this contributes to the performance and efficiency of the fuel cell. However, it is also important to take into account the membrane’s durability to ensure that it canmaintain itsperformance under the actual fuel cell’s operating conditions and serve a long lifetime. The current state-of-the-art Nafion membranes are limited due to their high cost, loss of conductivity at elevated temperatures due to dehydration, and fuel crossover. Alternatives to Nafion have become a well-researched topic in recent years. Aromatic-based membranes where the polymer chains are linked together by aromatic rings, alongside varying numbers of ether, ketone, or sulfone functionalities, imide, or benzimidazoles in their structures, are one of the alternatives that show great potential as PEMs due totheir electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal strengths. Membranes based on these polymers, such as poly(aryl ether ketones) (PAEKs) and polyimides (PIs), however, lack a sufficient level of proton conductivity and durability to be practical for use in fuel cells. Therefore, membrane modifications are necessary to overcome their drawbacks. This paper reviews the challenges associated with different types of aromatic-based PEMs, plus the recent approaches that have been adopted to enhance their properties and performance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Liu ◽  
Xiaoyu Meng ◽  
Chuanming Shi ◽  
Jiangbei Huo ◽  
Ziqing Cai ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTGraphene oxide (GO) is one of the most attractive inorganic nanofillers in proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for its large specific surface area and high proton conductivity. The proton conductivity of GO nanosheet is known to be orders of magnitude greater than the bulk GO, thus it is essential to improve the dispersion of GO nanosheets in the PEM matrix to achieve higher conductivity. In this study, we report a facile and effective method to fabricate a GO/sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) composite membrane with well-dispersed GO nanosheets in SPEEK matrix by using electrospinning technique for direct methanol fuel cell application. The composite membrane exhibits improved proton conductivity, dimensional stability and methanol barrier property due to the presence of well-dispersed GOs. It is believed that the GO nanosheets can not only induce continuous channels for proton-conducting via Grotthuss mechanism, but also act as methanol barriers to hinder the methanol molecules from passing through the membrane.


2011 ◽  
Vol 410 ◽  
pp. 148-151
Author(s):  
Ananta Kumar Mishra ◽  
Seon Hyeong Bae ◽  
Nam Hoon Kim ◽  
Kin Tak Lau ◽  
Joong Hee Lee

Nafion-clay nanocomposite membrane has been prepared by dispersing unmodified and acid activated Laponite XLS in Nafion 20% dispersion. The resulting membranes possess better proton conductivity and mechanical strength as compared to the virgin membrane. Acid activation of the nanoclay leads to thein-situgeneration of H3PO4by the hydrolysis of the peptizer present on the surface of the nanoclay. Thein-situgenerated H3PO4helps in improving all the technical properties of the nanocomposite including the water uptake and proton conductivity of the nanocomposite, containing acid activated clay compared to the nanocomposite, containing unmodified clay. The maximum proton conductivity of 270.2 mS/cm is achieved at 110 °C for the nanocomposite membrane containing 3% acid-activated Laponite compared to 136.2 mS/cm for the virgin Nafion. Keywords: Nafion, clay, nanocomposite, peptizer, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (FEMFC), proton conductivity, membrane


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2917-2929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bagher Karimi ◽  
Fereidoon Mohammadi ◽  
Khadijeh Hooshyari

In this research, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were prepared and employed as electrolyte in Nafion membranes for PEM fuel cell application.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
John Vourdoubas

The possibility of using fuel cells powered by solar hydrogen for energy generation in greenhouses with reference to the island of Crete, Greece has been examined. Change of fossil fuels used in greenhouses with renewable energies and sustainable energy technologies is very important for mitigation of climate change. Various renewable energy sources and low carbon emission technologies including geothermal energy, biomass, solar photovoltaics and co-generation systems have been used so far. Use of solar photovoltaics for generating electricity consumed in water electrolysis for hydrogen production has been investigated. Hydrogen feeding a proton exchange membrane fuel cell co-generating electricity and heat was used in a greenhouse located in Crete, Greece. The system could be useful in a stand-alone greenhouse with annual specific energy consumption at 150 KWh/m2. A solar photovoltaic system with nominal power at 33.33 KWp powering an electrolytic cell at 5.71 KW could produce annually 2,083 kg hydrogen. The hydrogen could feed a fuel cell at 1.71 KWel generating annually all the electricity required in a greenhouse of 1,000 m2. Co-produced heat could also cover 11.11% of the annual heat requirements in the greenhouse. It was found though that the overall electric efficiency of the system was very low at 4.5%. The low overall efficiency and the size of the solar-PV required indicate that the abovementioned energy system is not suitable in commercial agricultural greenhouses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-191
Author(s):  
M. Abdus Salam ◽  
Md Shehan Habib ◽  
Paroma Arefin ◽  
Kawsar Ahmed ◽  
Md Sahab Uddin ◽  
...  

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is now being extensively researched around the world to find a reliable renewable energy source. Global warming, national calamities, fossil-fuel shortages have drawn global attention to environment friendly and renewable energy source. The hydrogen fuel cell technology most certainly fits those requisites. New researches facilitate improving performance, endurance, cost-efficiency, and overcoming limitations of the fuel cells. The various factors affecting the features and the efficiency of a fuel cell must be explored in the course of advancement in a specific manner. Temperature is one of the most critical performance-changing parameters of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). In this review paper, we have discussed the impact of temperature on the efficiency and durability of the hydrogen fuel cell, more precisely, on a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). We found that increase in temperature increases the performance and efficiency, power production, voltage, leakage current, but decreases mass crossover and durability. But we concluded with the findings that an optimum temperature is required for the best performance.


Author(s):  
L. Magistri ◽  
A. Traverso ◽  
A. F. Massardo ◽  
R. K. Shah

The fuel cell system and fuel cell gas turbine hybrid system represent an emerging technology for power generation because of its higher energy conversion efficiency, extremely low environmental pollution and potential use of some renewable energy sources as fuels. Depending upon the type and size of applications, from domestic heating to industrial cogeneration, there are different types of fuel cell technologies to be employed. The fuel cells considered in this paper are the proton exchange membrane (PEMFC), the molten carbonate (MCFC) and the solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells. In all these systems, heat exchangers play an important and critical role in the thermal management of the fuel cell itself and the boundary components, such as the fuel reformer (when methane or natural gas is used), the air preheating and the fuel cell cooling. In this paper, the impact of heat exchangers on the performance of PEMFC systems and SOFC-MCFC gas turbine hybrid systems is investigated. Several options in terms of cycle layout and heat exchanger technology are discussed from the on-design, off-design and control perspectives. A general overview of the main issues related to heat exchangers performance, cost and durability is presented and the most promising configurations identified.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju-Hee Jang ◽  
Sergiy Oleksandrov ◽  
Young-Kwan Lee ◽  
Chan-Hwa Chung

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