Showing papers on "Nafion published in 2023"

Sulfonated Polybenzimidazole as a PEM in a Microbial Fuel Cell: An Efficient Strategy for Green Energy Generation and Wastewater Cleaning

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioelectrochemical system that has a dual application: producing renewable energy and simultaneously purifying dirty water. However, low power density and high installation cost are the major limitations. To overcome these problems and to replace the highly expensive Nafion which is used as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) in MFCs, here, in this study, a high-molecular weight sulfonated oxybispolybenzimidazole (MSOPBI) membrane has been made from the newly synthesized sulfonated diacid monomer in a readily executable synthetic path and cost-effective manner, and finally, the MSOPBI membrane has been tested in a dual-chamber MFC. The newly synthesized MSOPBI membrane displayed less water uptake, moderate ion exchange capacity (IEC) and proton conductivity in the hydrated state, low dimensional swelling, and phase-separated morphology with enhanced mechanical strength due to the more compact and rigid structure of the membrane owing to the crosslinking between the sulfonic functional group and imidazole group. It demonstrated a higher MFC performance because of the various favorable factors including morphological features. The MFC operation in the presence of the MSOPBI membrane when compared with that with Nafion showed an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 345 mV, a power density of 280 mW/m2, and a current density of 2.2 mA/m2 from the polarization curves with a relatively less voltage drop. Compared to Nafion, MSOPBI showed an increase in power density by 47%. Electrochemical analysis (OCV, cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), Tafel curves) depicted the increased bioelectrochemical activity during the MFC operation in the presence of MSOPBI owing to its compositional and low-swelling characteristic functionality that impacted the decreased resistances and system losses toward enhanced power/energy output compared to that with the Nafion membrane. All these data together proved the effectiveness of the newly synthesized MSOPBI membrane for use in MFCs for the production of green energy and cleaning wastewater.

Enhanced Triple-Phase Interface in PEMFC by Proton Conductor Absorption on the Pt Catalyst

Abstract: In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the core component and the region of the oxidation–reduction. In order to obtain a great performance, Pt with excellent catalyst efficiency is usually adopted in PEMFC as the catalyst. However, the high cost and poor durability remain the two major challenges in the application of PEMFC; thus, it is worth paying attention to enhance the utilization of the Pt catalyst and the stability of PEMFC. In this work, the Nafion array membrane with a larger specific surface and higher proton conductivity was applied to the cathode catalyst layer (CL) to prepare the ordered MEA. In order to improve the three-phase interface of the cathode CL, Nafion was adsorbed on the Pt particles as the proton conductor to expedite the proton transfer efficiency based on the principle that sulfonic acid is easily adsorbed on the Pt surface. In this case, the peak power density of PEMFC with Nafion absorption on the Pt surface is up to 843 mW cm–2 at the Pt loading of 61.4 μg cm–2, which is much higher than that of the fuel cell without a proton conductor on the Pt catalyst in the cathode CL (710 mW cm–2). Besides, the durability tests show that PEMFCs with Nafion absorption on the Pt catalyst surface can work continuously for 100 h without obvious voltage attenuation, which is more stable than that of the bare Pt for 70 h. In conclusion, Nafion as the proton conductor was adsorbed on the Pt catalyst surface of the cathode CL to enhance the triple-phase interface in PEMFC, which is expected to be a universal method to prepare PEMFCs with high stability and peak power density at a low preparation cost.

PGM-Free Electrocatalytic Layer Characterization by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of an Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer with Nafion Ionomer as the Bonding Agent

Abstract: Low-cost anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis is a promising technology for producing “green” high-purity hydrogen using platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalysts. The performance of AEM electrolysis depends on the overall overvoltage, e.g., voltage losses coming from different processes in the water electrolyzer including hydrogen and oxygen evolution, non-faradaic charge transfer resistance, mass transfer limitations, and others. Due to the different relaxation times of these processes, it is possible to unravel them in the frequency domain by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This study relates to solving and quantifying contributions to the total polarization resistance of the AEM water electrolyzer, including ohmic and charge transfer resistances in the kinetically controlled mode. The high-frequency contribution is proposed to have non-faradaic nature, and its conceivable nature and mechanism are discussed. The characteristic frequencies of unraveled contributions are provided to be used as benchmark data for commercially available membranes and electrodes.

Sulfonated covalent organic framework packed nafion membrane with high proton conductivity for H2/O2 fuel cell applications

Abstract: Developing novel proton exchange membranes with low activation energy and high performance is of great significance. This paper reports a multichannel proton conduction membrane constructed from a 2D COF (ZUT-COF-SO3H)...

Manufacturing thin ionic polymer metal composite for sensing at the microscale

Abstract: Abstract Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) are a class of materials with a rising appeal in biological micro-electromechanical systems (bio-MEMS) due to their unique properties (low voltage output, bio-compatibility, affinity with ionic medium). While tailoring and improving actuation capabilities of IPMCs is a key motivator in almost all IPMC manufacturing reports, very little efforts have been dedicated to sensing using IPMC thinner than 100 µ m. Most reports on IPMC manufacturing and utilization rely on 180 µ m-thick Nafion with platinum electrodes, too stiff for bio-MEMS applications. The same fabrication process on thinner membranes does yield in very poor electrodes and performance, and needs to be studied to increase flexibility and sensitivity in the microscale range. This study demonstrates an electroless Pt deposition method for fabricating bio-MEMS-suitable 50 µ m-thick IPMC samples. First, we perform a comparative study on the platinum distribution within the Nafion backbone as well as on the surface for the standard electroless deposition recipe for thin (50 µ m) and thick (180 µ m) Nafion. We report strong differences in platinum distribution for thick and thin IPMC that experienced the same manufacturing process. By varying chemical concentrations from the standard recipe we obtain convenient platinum distribution on thin Nafion, with platinum mainly localized in proximity of surface, as well as electrodes with lower sheet resistance. We could measure the flexural rigidity as 3.43 × 10 − 8 N·m 2 , 46 times lower than standard 180 µ m-thick IPMC. The calculated sensitivity is 0.476 ± 0.02 mV mm −1 and the limit of detection for our sensor is 500 ± 20 µ m. This procedure sets a milestone for manufacturing 50 µ m-thick IPMC for transducers and sensors in bio-MEMS applications.

Synergistic Utilization of a CeO2-Anchored Bifunctionalized Metal–Organic Framework in a Polymer Nanocomposite toward Achieving High Power Density and Durability of PEMFC

Abstract: The free radicals produced during the long-term operation of fuel cells can accelerate the chemical degradation of the proton exchange membrane (PEM). In the present work, the widely used free radical scavenger CeO2 was anchored on amino-functionalized metal–organic frameworks, and flexible alkyl sulfonic acid side chains were tethered onto the surface of inorganic nanoparticles. The prepared CeO2-anchored bifunctionalized metal–organic framework (CeO2-MNCS) was used as a promising synergistic filler to modify the Nafion matrix for addressing the detrimental effect of pristine CeO2 on the performance and durability of PEMs, including decreased proton conductivity and the migration problem of CeO2. The obtained hybrid membranes exhibited a high proton conductivity up to 0.239 S cm–1, enabling them to achieve a high power density of 591.47 mW cm–2 in a H2/air PEMFC single cell, almost 1.59 times higher than that of recast Nafion. After 115 h of acceleration testing, the OCV decay ratio of the hybrid membrane was decreased to 0.54 mV h–1, which was significantly lower than that of recast Nafion (2.18 mV h–1). The hybrid membrane still maintained high power density, low hydrogen crossover, and unabated catalytic activity of the catalyst layer after the durability test. This study provides an effective one-stone-two-birds strategy to develop highly durable PEMs by immobilizing CeO2 without sacrificing proton conductivity, allowing for the realization of improvement on the performance and sustained durability of PEMFC simultaneously.

Optimizing the sensing performance of amperometric creatinine detection based on creatinine deiminase/Nafion®-nanostructured polyaniline composite film by mixture design method

Abstract: Nafionࣨ-nanostructured polyaniline (nsPANi) composite film is prepared using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and immobilized with creatinine deiminase (CD) enzyme and is used to sense creatinine in a buffer phosphate solution. The conditions for preparing Nafionࣨ-nsPANi composite film are optimized by using a mixture design for which the sensitivity is the response. The relationship between the sensitivity of the amperometric creatinine biosensor (y) and the normalized aniline concentration (Y1), HCl concentration (Y2) and scanning rate (Y3) is y = 119.44Y1 + 45.23Y2 + 100.93Y3 + 255.69Y1Y2 + 313.16Y1Y3 + 430.56Y1Y2Y3 The maximum sensitivity of an amperometric creatinine biosensor that is constructed using Nafionࣨ-nsPANi composite film in 0.0943 M aniline, 0.9024 M HCl and using a scanning rate of 27.88 mV s−1 is 2013.2 μA mM−1 cm−2, which is 54.9% better than the sensitivity of a conventional experimental technique. The amperometric creatinine biosensor is 6.60% less sensitive after sensing 0.15 mM creatinine 240 times. The amperometric creatinine biosensor incurs insignificant interference in 0.138 mM urea, 0.085 mM ascorbic acid (AA) and 5.54 mM glucose.

Xanthan Gum-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles for Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection of Hg2+ Ions from Water

Abstract: An environmentally safe, efficient, and economical microwave-assisted technique was selected for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). To prepare uniformly disseminated AgNPs, xanthan gum (XG) was utilized as both a reducing and capping agent. UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to characterize the formed XG-AgNPs, with the absorption band regulated at 414 nm under optimized parameters. Atomic force microscopy was used to reveal the size and shape of XG-AgNPs. The interactions between the XG capping agent and AgNPs observed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The XG-AgNPs were placed in between glassy carbon electrode and Nafion® surfaces and then deployed as sensors for voltammetric evaluation of mercury ions (Hg2+) using square-wave voltammetry as an analytical mode. Required Nafion® quantities, electrode behavior, electrolyte characteristics, pH, initial potentials, accumulation potentials, and accumulation durations were all comprehensively investigated. In addition, an electrochemical mechanism for the oxidation of Hg2+ was postulated. With an exceptional limit of detection of 0.18 ppb and an R2 value of 0.981, the sensors’ measured linear response range was 0.0007–0.002 µM Hg2+. Hg2+ evaluations were ultimately unaffected by the presence of many coexisting metal ions (Cd2+, Pb2+, Cr2O4, Co2+,Cu2+, CuSO4). Spiked water samples were tested using the described approach, with Hg2+ recoveries ranging from 97% to 100%.

Recent Approaches to Achieve High Temperature Operation of Nafion Membranes

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), as an efficient energy conversion device, has many advantages, such as high energy conversion efficiency and environmentally friendly zero emissions, and is expected to have great potential for addressing the uneven distribution of global green energy. As a core component, the performance of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) directly affects the overall output of the fuel cell system. At present, Nafion membranes with good, comprehensive properties are the most widely used commercial proton exchange membrane materials. However, Nafion membranes demonstrate a great inadaptability with an increase in operating temperatures, such as a rapid decay in proton conductivity. Therefore, enhancing the overall performance of Nafion membranes under high temperatures and low relative humidity (RH) has become an urgent problem. Although many efforts have been made to solve this problem, it is difficult to find the balance point between high-temperature conductivity and overall stability for researchers. In this paper, we summarize the recent approaches to improving the operating temperature of Nafion membranes from the following two perspectives: (1) using different materials for the modification of Nafion membranes, and (2) applying different modification methods to the Nafion membranes. Based on the structural and functional characteristics of Nafion, the non-destructive targeted filling of fillers and the efficient synergy of the two-phase region are two vital research directions for the preparation of high-performance composite membranes.

Graphene Oxide-Intercalated Microbial Montmorillonite to Moderate the Dependence of Nafion-Based PEMFCs in High-Humidity Environments

Abstract: The most fatal disadvantage of Nafion-based proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is their significant performance losses at low relative humidities (RH ≤ 80%), making external humidification necessary. In this work, a graphene oxide (GO)-intercalated microbial montmorillonite (mMMT) layered stack (GO@mMMT) was prepared to enhance the proton conductivity of a Nafion membrane under a low humidity at elevated temperatures. The prepared mMMT had a high specific surface area and pore volume due to microbial mineralization, allowing GO to act as a spacer intercalated between MMT layers. This layered stack greatly enhanced the water absorbance and retention capacity of GO@mMMT/Nafion composite membranes. The GO@mMMT/Nafion composite membrane exhibited excellent proton conductivity under various humidities. Particularly, the 0.5GO@mMMT/Nafion sample achieved a proton conductivity of 36.4 mS·cm–1 at 80 °C/98% RH and 17.3 mS·cm–1 at 80 °C/20% RH, which was 82% and 188% higher than that of the recast Nafion membrane, respectively. The assembled single cell reached a peak power density of 546 mW·cm–2, which was 60% higher than that of the recast Nafion single cell. These results indicate that the Nafion composite membranes with GO@mMMT incorporated layered stacks show substantial potential for PEMFC applications with simplified water management.

Nafion Modified Titanium Nitride pH Sensor for Future Biomedical Applications

Abstract: pH sensors are increasingly being utilized in the biomedical field and have been implicated in health applications that aim to improve the monitoring and treatment of patients. In this work, a previously developed Titanium Nitride (TiN) solid-state pH sensor is further enhanced, with the potential to be used for pH regulation inside the human body and for other biomedical, industrial, and environmental applications. One of the main limitations of existing solid-state pH sensors is their reduced performance in high redox mediums. The potential shift E0 value of the previously developed TiN pH electrode in the presence of oxidizing or reducing agents is 30 mV. To minimize this redox shift, a Nafion-modified TiN electrode was developed, tested, and evaluated in various mediums. The Nafion-modified electrode has been shown to shift the E0 value by only 2 mV, providing increased accuracy in highly redox samples while maintaining acceptable reaction times. Overcoming the redox interference for pH measurement enables several advantages of the Nafion-modified TiN electrode over the standard pH glass electrode, implicating its use in medical diagnosis, real-time health monitoring, and further development of miniaturized smart sensors.

Fe3O4-Nanoparticle-Modified Sensor for the Detection of Dopamine, Uric Acid and Ascorbic Acid

Abstract: A simple electrochemical sensor based on electrochemically synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles was constructed by an ink with the nanoparticles, isopropanol, NAFION and carbon Vulcan to detect dopamine, uric acid and ascorbic acid. The electrocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles for the oxidation of the analyte molecules was examined by means of cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. The parameters controlling the performance of the sensor were optimized, such as the amount of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 mg), amount of binder (5, 10, 15 µL) and carbon Vulcan in the ink (4, 6, 8 mg). The temperature was maintained at 25 °C and the pH was 7.5 with buffer phosphate. The optimal sensor conditions were 8 mg magnetite, 4 mg carbon Vulcan and 5 µL of NAFION@ 117. The calibration curves for the three analytes were determined separately, obtaining linear ranges of 10–100, 20–160 and 1050–2300 µM and limits of detection of 4.5, 14 and 95 µM for dopamine, uric acid and ascorbic acid, respectively. This electrochemical sensor has also shown significant sensitivity and selectivity without interference from the three analyte molecules presented simultaneously in solution. This sensor was applied for the detection of these molecules in real samples.