Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions
Abstract The development of high-performance proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology, particularly under demanding operating conditions. This study investigates novel nanocomposite membranes based on Nafion reinforced with sulfonated clay-carbon nanotubes (sCC)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-025-00325-7 |
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| author | Isabella Nicotera Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman Valeria Loise Martina De Bonis Coppola Luigi Cataldo Simari |
| author_facet | Isabella Nicotera Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman Valeria Loise Martina De Bonis Coppola Luigi Cataldo Simari |
| author_sort | Isabella Nicotera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The development of high-performance proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology, particularly under demanding operating conditions. This study investigates novel nanocomposite membranes based on Nafion reinforced with sulfonated clay-carbon nanotubes (sCC) as a hybrid filler. The incorporation of sCC not only improved the ion exchange capacity and hydrolytic stability but also critically modulated water dynamics, leading to superior water retention and sustained proton diffusion, particularly at elevated temperatures. The nanocomposite membranes exhibited substantially higher proton conductivity, especially under low relative humidity conditions, a critical factor for high-temperature fuel cell operation. Electrochemical evaluation in a H2/O2 direct hydrogen fuel cell (DHFC) showed an almost fourfold increase in peak power density (443.2 mW cm⁻²) under challenging high-temperature, low-humidity conditions (120 °C, 20% RH) for N-sCC-L3 compared to recast Nafion (117.3 mW cm⁻²). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e29f518c63a44dfa79e8927a06fc188 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2194-1459 2194-1467 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e29f518c63a44dfa79e8927a06fc1882025-08-20T03:43:25ZengSpringerOpenMaterials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy2194-14592194-14672025-08-0114311110.1007/s40243-025-00325-7Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditionsIsabella Nicotera0Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman1Valeria Loise2Martina De Bonis3Coppola Luigi4Cataldo Simari5Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of CalabriaDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of CalabriaDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of CalabriaDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of CalabriaDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of CalabriaDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of CalabriaAbstract The development of high-performance proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology, particularly under demanding operating conditions. This study investigates novel nanocomposite membranes based on Nafion reinforced with sulfonated clay-carbon nanotubes (sCC) as a hybrid filler. The incorporation of sCC not only improved the ion exchange capacity and hydrolytic stability but also critically modulated water dynamics, leading to superior water retention and sustained proton diffusion, particularly at elevated temperatures. The nanocomposite membranes exhibited substantially higher proton conductivity, especially under low relative humidity conditions, a critical factor for high-temperature fuel cell operation. Electrochemical evaluation in a H2/O2 direct hydrogen fuel cell (DHFC) showed an almost fourfold increase in peak power density (443.2 mW cm⁻²) under challenging high-temperature, low-humidity conditions (120 °C, 20% RH) for N-sCC-L3 compared to recast Nafion (117.3 mW cm⁻²).https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-025-00325-7Nanocomposite membranesNafionclay-CNTs hybridPFG NMRProton conductivityH2/O2 fuel cells |
| spellingShingle | Isabella Nicotera Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman Valeria Loise Martina De Bonis Coppola Luigi Cataldo Simari Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Nanocomposite membranes Nafion clay-CNTs hybrid PFG NMR Proton conductivity H2/O2 fuel cells |
| title | Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions |
| title_full | Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions |
| title_short | Enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion/sulfonated clay-carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high-performance fuel cells under challenging conditions |
| title_sort | enhanced electrochemical performance and thermomechanical stability of nafion sulfonated clay carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for high performance fuel cells under challenging conditions |
| topic | Nanocomposite membranes Nafion clay-CNTs hybrid PFG NMR Proton conductivity H2/O2 fuel cells |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-025-00325-7 |
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