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Proton conductivity and morphology of new composite membranes based on zirconium phosphates, phosphotungstic acid, and silicic acid for direct hydrocarbon fuel cells applications

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Abstract

The effect of Phosphotungstic acid (PWA) on the proton conductivity and morphology of zirconium phosphate (ZrP), porous polytetrafluoethylene (PTFE), glycerol (GLY) composite membrane was investigated in this work. The composite membranes were synthesized using two approaches: (1) Phosphotungstic acid (PWA) added to phosphoric acid and, (2) PWA + silicic acid were added to phosphoric acid. ZrP was formed inside the pores of PTFE via the in situ precipitation. The membranes were evaluated for their morphology and proton conductivity. The proton conductivity of PWA–ZrP/PTFE/GLY membrane was 0.003 S cm−1. When PWA was combined with silicic acid, the proton conductivity increased from 0.003 to 0.059 S cm−1 (became about 60% of Nafion’s). This conductivity is higher than the proton conductivity of Nafion–silica–PWA membranes reported in the literature. The SEM results showed a porous structure for the modified membranes. The porous structure combined with this reasonable proton conductivity would make these membranes suitable as the electrolyte component in the catalyst layer for direct hydrocarbon fuel cell applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support from the American University of Sharjah provided through the faculty research travel grant, FRG15-T-21 and FRG14-3-13.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, UAE

    Amani Al-Othman

  2. Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N, Canada

    Yuanchen Zhu, André Y. Tremblay & Marten Ternan

  3. Catalysis Centre for Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N, Canada

    Amani Al-Othman, Yuanchen Zhu & Marten Ternan

  4. Department of Sustainable & Renewable Energy, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE

    Muhammad Tawalbeh

  5. EnPross Incorporated, 147 Banning Road, Ottawa, ON, K2L 1C5, Canada

    Marten Ternan

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  1. Amani Al-Othman
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  2. Yuanchen Zhu
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  3. Muhammad Tawalbeh
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  4. André Y. Tremblay
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Correspondence to Amani Al-Othman.

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Al-Othman, A., Zhu, Y., Tawalbeh, M. et al. Proton conductivity and morphology of new composite membranes based on zirconium phosphates, phosphotungstic acid, and silicic acid for direct hydrocarbon fuel cells applications. J Porous Mater 24, 721–729 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10934-016-0309-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10934-016-0309-6

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