Development of composite electrolytes containing inorganic particles of high proton conductivity for direct ethanol fuel cells

• Grant number: 13/50151-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Reginaldo Muccillo
• Grantee: Bruno Ribeiro de Matos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this project is the synthesis and characterization of proton conductors such as cesium hydrogen sutfate (CsHSO4) and hydrogen titanate (H2Ti3O7.nH2O), aiming at the preparation of Nafion based composite electrolytes for direct ethanol fuel cell application (DEFC) at intermediate temperature (T > 130 ºC). The development of new proton conductors is considered a crucial step to increase the fuel cell performance and to advance this technology toward commercialization. Nafion polymer, the DEFC standard electrolyte, has low mechanical stability and conductivity atT > 100 ºC and high ethanol permeability restricting the increase of DEFC operation temperature. The temperature enhancement is appointed as a promising strategy to increase DEFC performance. Such deficiencies can be overcome by using composite electrolyte having inorganic nanoparticles possessing high proton conductivity. In this context, the particles CsHSO4 and H2Ti3O7 will be prepared, respectively by means of innovative routes, such as precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis. The partial replacement of hydrogen ions by cesium ions in the titanate will be performed to increase the inter-lamelar spacing and promote the increase in the proton conductivity. The CsHSO4 will be added in a crosslinked hydrophobic matrix (modified Nafion) with functional groups capable of establishing interactions with the inorganic phase. The prepared composite films will be tested as electrolytes in direct ethanol fuel cell at T > 130 ºC. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(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)

MORAES, L. P. R.; MATOS, B. R.; RADTKE, C.; SANTIAGO, E. I.; FONSECA, F. C.; AMICO, S. C.; MALFATTI, C. F.. Synthesis and performance of palladium-based electrocatalysts in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, v. 41, n. 15, p. 6457-6468, APR 27 2016. (13/50151-5)

AHMED, Z.; MATOS, B. R.; DE FLORIO, D. Z.; REY, J. F. Q.; SANTIAGO, E. I.; FONSECA, F. C.. Nafion-mesoporous silica composite electrolyte: properties and direct ethanol fuel cells performance. MATERIALS FOR RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, v. 5, n. 2, MAY 2016. (13/50151-5)

MATOS, BRUNO R.; POLITANO, RODOLFO; REY, JOSE FERNANDO Q.; HERMIDA-MERINO, DANIEL; SCHADE, ULRICH; PUSKAR, LJILJANA; FONSECA, FABIO C.. Interplay of alpha/beta-Relaxation Dynamics and the Shape of Ionomer Building Blocks. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 8, SEP 7 2018. (14/50279-4, 16/14785-8, 14/09087-4, 13/50151-5)

DA SILVA, JAQUELINE S.; CARVALHO, SABRINA G. M.; DA SILVA, RODRIGO P.; TAVARES, ANA C.; SCHADE, ULRICH; PUSKAR, LJILJANA; FONSECA, FABIO C.; MATOS, BRUNO R.. SAXS signature of the lamellar ordering of ionic domains of perfluorinated sulfonic-acid ionomers by electric and magnetic field-assisted casting. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, v. 22, n. 24, p. 13764-13779, JUN 28 2020. (14/09087-4, 17/11937-4, 14/50279-4, 13/50151-5)

MATOS, BRUNO R.; DRESCH, MAURO A.; SANTIAGO, ELISABETE I.; MORAES, LETICIA P. R.; CARASTAN, DANILO J.; SCHOENMAKER, JEROEN; VELASCO-DAVALOS, IVAN A.; RUEDIGER, ANDREAS; TAVARES, ANA C.; FONSECA, FABIO C.. Nafion membranes annealed at high temperature and controlled humidity: structure, conductivity, and fuel cell performance. Electrochimica Acta, v. 196, p. 110-117, APR 1 2016. (13/50151-5, 14/09087-4, 14/50279-4)

MATOS, BRUNO R.; DA SILVA, JAQUELINE S.; SANTIAGO, ELISABETE I.; PARRA, DUCLERC F.; CARASTAN, DANILO J.; DE FLORIO, DANIEL Z.; ANDRADA, HEBER E.; CARRERAS, ALEJO C.; FONSECA, FABIO C.. Proton and cesium conductivity in perfluorosulfonate ionomers at low and high relative humidity. Solid State Ionics, v. 301, p. 86-94, MAR 2017. (13/50151-5, 14/09087-4, 14/50279-4)