Synthesis of Sulfated Zirconia Nanoparticles for Fuel Cell Applications

With the aim to improve the durability of proton exchange membranes (PEMs), sulfated zirconiananoparticles were evaluated as inorganic additives in the fabrication of the composite membranes based on thesulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK). Two types of zirconia nanoparticles were prepared by use of hydrothermaland precipitation methods. Due to desired crystallographic structure and crystallite size, the product of precipitationmethod was selected to be functionalized by sulforic acid. The crystal structure and the crystallite size of nanoparticleswere characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD).The ion exchange capacity was determined by H NMR and back titrationmethod. Also, the membrane durability is investigated via ex situ Fenton test. It is revealed that SPEEK-SZrO2 membranesample exhibits higher oxidative stability than the plain SPEEK.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sulfated ZrO2 nanoparticle ، Hydrothermal synthesis ، Precipitation method ، Proton exchange membranefuel cell (PEMFC) ، Durability