Fabrication of layer-by-layer films for fuel cell applications

• Grant number: 10/13033-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Riul Júnior
• Grantee: Celina Massumi Miyazaki
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims the fabrication of layer-by-layer (LbL) films of conducting polymers (polypyrrole and PEDOT), conventional polyelectrolytes (PSS, PEI, ...) and platinum nanoparticles over Nafion® membranes, envisaging their future application in fuel cells. Alternatively, we intend to use Nafion® as a polianion and apply it in the fabrication of LbL films as well. We will study how the built-up of ultrathin films in different supramolecular architectures will interfere in the catalytic activity of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell and Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, bearing in mind size reduction and increasing efficiency. Up to date, the LbL films have being weakly explored in fuel cells, but recent results indicate that the deposition of LbL films onto Nafion® membranes results in a 40% reduction of methanol permeation and an increase of almost twice in the proton conduction, when compared with bare Nafion®. Moreover, the use of conducting polymers is highly promising due to the availability of charge sites that might contribute to an increase in the proton conductivity of Nafion®, in addition to offer higher chemical and mechanical stability to the membranes in very oxidative and reductive environments. The incorporation of platinum nanoparticles in the LbL film structure might increase the catalytic activity of the formed membranes having the possibility of, simultaneously, cooperate to diminish the methanol permeation and increase proton conductivity. The methanol permeability, ionic exchange and water absorption analysis will determine which molecular architecture is more adequate for fuel cell application, and, if we can optimize a LbL structure that permits this sort of application, we have as a final goal built up fuel cells in lab-on-a-chip devices due to the versatility in the composition and integration offered in microfuel cells, of huge commercial appeal nowadays.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MIYAZAKI, CELINA M.; MARIA, MARCO A. E.; BORGES, DAIANE DAMASCENO; WOELLNER, CRISTIANO F.; BRUNETTO, GUSTAVO; FONSECA, ALEXANDRE F.; CONSTANTINO, CARLOS J. L.; PEREIRA-DA-SILVA, MARCELO A.; DE SIERVO, ABNER; GALVAO, DOUGLAS S.; et al. Experimental and computational investigation of reduced graphene oxide nanoplatelets stabilized in poly(styrene sulfonate) sodium salt. Journal of Materials Science, v. 53, n. 14, p. 10049-10058, JUL 2018. (10/13033-6, 16/00023-9, 12/01484-9, 14/24547-1, 15/14703-9, 14/11410-8)

ALMEIDA, TIAGO P.; MIYAZAKI, CELINA M.; PAGANIN, VALDECIR A.; FERREIRA, MARYSTELA; SAEKI, MARGARIDA J.; PEREZ, JOELMA; RIUL, JR., ANTONIO. PEDOT:PSS self-assembled films to methanol crossover reduction in Nafion (R) membranes. Applied Surface Science, v. 323, p. 7-12, DEC 30 2014. (10/13033-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MIYAZAKI, Celina Massumi. Fabricação de filmes ultrafinos automontados para aplicações em células a combustível. 2014. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências. Bauru Bauru.