Membranes (Aug 2020)

Immobilisation and Release of Radical Scavengers on Nanoclays for Chemical Reinforcement of Proton Exchange Membranes

  • Alia Akrout,
  • Aude Delrue,
  • Marta Zatoń,
  • Fanny Duquet,
  • Francesco Spanu,
  • Mélanie Taillades-Jacquin,
  • Sara Cavaliere,
  • Deborah Jones,
  • Jacques Rozière

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10090208
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 9
p. 208

Abstract

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Mechanical and chemical stability of proton exchange membranes are crucial requirements for the development of fuel cells for durable energy conversion. To tackle this challenge, bi-functional nanoclays grafted with amino groups and with embedded radical scavengers, that is, CeO2 nanoparticles were incorporated into Aquivion® ionomer. The composite membranes presented high proton conductivity and increased stability to radical attack compared to non-modified Aquivion membranes, demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach based on radical scavenger immobilisation and release from clay nanocontainers.

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