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Elaboration of nanostructured and highly proton conductive membranes for PEMFC by ion track grafting technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2012

Enrico Gallino ,
Marie-Claude Clochard ,
Emmanuel Balanzat ,
Gerard Gebel  and
Arnaud Morin
Enrico Gallino
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Solides Irradiés, CEA-Ecole Polytechnique-CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau, France
Marie-Claude Clochard
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Solides Irradiés, CEA-Ecole Polytechnique-CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau, France
Emmanuel Balanzat
Affiliation:
CIMAP, CEA-CNRS-ENSICAEN, 6 Boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex 4, France
Gerard Gebel
Affiliation:
CEA-DSM/INAC/SPrAM, CEA Grenoble, 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
Arnaud Morin
Affiliation:
CEA-DRT/LITEN/DTH/LCPEM, CEA Grenoble, 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
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Abstract

In order to develop a novel proton conductive membrane for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a poly(vinyl di-fluoride) (PVDF) matrix was irradiated with swift heavy ions (SHI) to obtain radically active cylindrical latent tracks in the polymer film. Styrene was then radiografted and further sulfonated into these irradiated cylindrical regions, leading to sulfonated polystyrene (PVDF-g-PSSA) domains within PVDF. The role of the grafting degree and fluence of irradiation of the PVDF matrix on PVDF-g-PSSA membranes properties (chemical composition, ion exchange capacity) was investigated. Then, a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared and fuel cell tests have been performed. Our results clearly show that PVDF-g-PSSA membranes with a grafting degree of about 140%, obtained after irradiation at a fluence of 1010 ions/cm2, exhibit good conductivity values but their durability is limited to about 70 h. Decreasing the fluence leads to membranes with lower grafting yield but with fuel cell performances closer to those of 140% grafted PVDF-g-PSSA membrane and improved mechanical properties. Then, ion track grafting technique is a promising technique to obtain PEM with a good trade-off between proton conductivity and mechanical properties.

Keywords

polymerionic conductornanostructure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1384: Symposium B – Advanced Materials for Fuel Cells , 2012 , mrsf11-1384-b11-04
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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