Chitosan Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications.

The purpose of this study is to identify the steps involved in fabricating silica/chitosan composite membranes and their suitability for fuel cell applications. It also intends to identify the physical characteristics of chitosan composite membranes, including their degree of water absorption, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and functional groups. In this investigation, composite membranes were fabricated using the solution casting method with a chitosan content of 5 g and silica dosage variations of 2% and 4% while stirring at a constant speed for 2 h.

The Effect of Sulfated Zirconia and Zirconium Phosphate Nanocomposite Membranes on Fuel-Cell Efficiency.

To investigate the effect of acidic nanoparticles on proton conductivity, permeability, and fuel-cell performance, a commercial Nafion 117 membrane was impregnated with zirconium phosphates (ZrP) and sulfated zirconium (S-ZrO) nanoparticles. As they are more stable than other solid superacids, sulfated metal oxides have been the subject of intensive research. Meanwhile, hydrophilic, proton-conducting inorganic acids such as zirconium phosphate (ZrP) have been used to modify the Nafion membrane due to their hydrophilic nature, proton-conducting material, very low toxicity, low cost, and stability in a hydrogen/oxygen atmosphere.

The proton conductivity and mechanical properties of Nafion®/ ZrP nanocomposite membrane.

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).

Enhancing the mechanical properties of zirconia/Nafion nanocomposite membrane through carbon nanotubes for fuel cell application.

Membranes are widely used daily, such as for filtration in reverse osmosis, or in the form of electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Modified Nafion membranes were synthesised by impregnation and their mechanical properties were observed. The effect of the incorporation of a ZrO-CNT nano-filler within Nafion membrane on the thermal stability and crystallinity was investigated by TGA and XRD.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of simonkolleite nanoplatelets on nickel foam-graphene with enhanced surface area for high-performance supercapacitors.

Simonkolleite (Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O) nanoplatelets has been deposited on nickel foam-supported graphene by using an efficient microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The three-dimensional (3D) porous microstructure of the as-fabricated nickel foam-graphene/simonkolleite (NiF-G/SimonK) composite is beneficial to electrolyte penetration and ions exchange, whereas graphene provide improved electronic conductivity. Structural and morphological characterizations confirmed the presence of highly crystalline hexagonal-shaped nanoplatelets of simonkolleite.