Abstract
Integration of hybrid nanocomposite materials in a fuel cell (FC) provides excellent improved properties such as proton conductivity, membrane stability. Similarly, the synergetic effect of materials used in nanocomposite membranes gives better water retention property, suppression of fuel crossover with reduced cost of operation. Currently available composite materials comprising of various metals, metal oxides, carbon materials and polymers display their superior properties in fuel cell applications. However, composite membranes have drawbacks such as CO poisoning, poor water retention capacity, and fuel crossover due to the less chemical and thermal stabilities. Recently, a tremendous advancement in various nanocomposite membranes led to superior properties in terms of high membrane stability, proton conductivity, suppression of fuel crossover, less CO poisoning. In this chapter, the recent developments in FC nanocomposite technology are systematically summarized. Furthermore, the advantages of the insertion of hybrid, clean, cheap and new variety of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, chitosan and organic fillers in FC are neatly explained.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Abbreviations
- AFC:
-
Alkaline fuel cell
- CNT:
-
Carbon nanotubes
- CV:
-
Cyclic voltammetry
- DFT:
-
Density functional theory
- DMFC:
-
Direct methanol fuel cell
- FC:
-
Fuel cell
- GDL:
-
Gas diffusion layers
- IEC:
-
Ion exchange capacity
- MCFC:
-
Molten carbonate fuel cell
- MEA:
-
Membrane electrode assembly
- MWCNT:
-
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
- ORR:
-
Oxygen reduction reaction
- PAFC:
-
Phosphoric acid fuel cell
- PEM:
-
Proton exchange membrane
- PECVD:
-
Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
- PEEK:
-
Poly (ether ether ketone)
- PEMFC:
-
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
- RH:
-
Relative humidity
- SOFC:
-
Solid oxide fuel cell
- SPEEK:
-
Sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone)
- SWCNT:
-
Single-walled carbon nanotubes
- PBI:
-
Polybenzimidazole
- PVA:
-
Polyvinyl alcohol
- XRD:
-
X-ray diffraction
References
Hajilary N, Shahi A, Rezakazemi M (2018) Evaluation of socio-economic factors on CO2 emissions in Iran: factorial design and multivariable methods. J Clean Prod 189:108–115
Hashemi F, Rowshanzamir S, Rezakazemi M (2012) CFD simulation of PEM fuel cell performance: effect of straight and serpentine flow fields. Math Comput Model 55(3–4):1540–1557
Winter M, Brodd RJ (2004) What are batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors? Chem Rev 104:4245–4269
Lemons RA (1990) Fuel cells for transportation. J Power Sources 29(1–2):251–264
Peighambardoust S, Rowshanzamir S, Amjadi M (2010) Review of the proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications. Int J Hydrogen Energy 35(17):9349–9384
Giorgi L, Leccese F (2013) Fuel cells: technologies and applications. Open Fuel Cells J 6:1–20
Agmon N (1995) The grotthuss mechanism. Chem Phys Lett 244(5):456–462
Ueki T, Watanabe M (2008) Macromolecules in ionic liquids: progress, challenges, and opportunities. Macromolecules 41(11):3739–3749
Rezakazemi M, Amooghin AE, Montazer Rashmati MM, Ismail AF, Matsuura T (2014) State-of-the-art membrane based CO2 separation using mixed matrix membranes (MMMs): an overview on current status and future directions. Prog Polym Sci 39(5):817–861
Rezakazemi M, Razavi S, Mohammadi T, Nazari GA (2011) Simulation and determination of optimum conditions of pervaporative dehydration of isopropanol process using synthesized PVA–APTEOS/TEOS nanocomposite membranes by means of expert systems. J Membr Sci 379(1–2):224–232
Dashti A, Harami HR, Rezakazemi M (2018) Accurate prediction of solubility of gases within H2-selective nanocomposite membranes using committee machine intelligent system. Int J Hydrogen Energy 43(13):6614–6624
Rezakazemi M, Vatani A, Mohammadi T (2016) Synthesis and gas transport properties of crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposite membranes using octatrimethylsiloxy POSS nanoparticles. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 30:10–18
Rezakazemi M, Vatani A, Mohammadi T (2015) Synergistic interactions between POSS and fumed silica and their effect on the properties of crosslinked PDMS nanocomposite membranes. RSC Adv 5(100):82460–82470
Rezakazemi M, Sadrzadeh M, Mohammadi T, Matsuura T (2017) Methods for the preparation of organic–inorganic nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells. In: Inamuddin D, Mohammad A, Asiri AM (eds) Organic-inorganic composite polymer electrolyte membranes. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 311–325
Sodeifian G, Mojtaba R, Asghari M, Rezakzemi M (2018) Polyurethane-SAPO-34 mixed matrix membrane for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separation. Chin J Chem Eng. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjche.2018.03.012
Rezakazemi M, Dashti A, Asghari M, Saeed S (2017) H2-selective mixed matrix membranes modeling using ANFIS, PSO-ANFIS GA-ANFIS. Int J Hydrogen Energy 42(22):15211–15225
Baheri B, Mahnaz S, Razakazemi M, Elahe M, Mohammadi T (2014) Performance of PVA/NaA mixed matrix membrane for removal of water from ethylene glycol solutions by pervaporation. Chem Eng Commun 202(3):316–321
Shahverdi M, Baheri B, Razakazemi M, Elahe M, Mohammadi T (2013) Pervaporation study of ethylene glycol dehydration through synthesized (PVA-4A)/polypropylene mixed matrix composite membranes. Polym Eng Sci 53(7):1487–1493
Rostamizadeh M, Rezakazemi M, Shahidi K, Mohammadi T (2013) Gas permeation through H2-selective mixed matrix membranes: Experimental and neural network modeling. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38(2):1128–1135
Rezakazemi M, Mohammadi T (2013) Gas sorption in H2-selective mixed matrix membranes: experimental and neural network modeling. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38(32):14035–14041
Rezakazemi M, Shahidi K, Mohammadi T (2012) Sorption properties of hydrogen-selective PDMS/zeolite 4A mixed matrix membrane. Int J Hydrogen Energy 37(22):17275–17284
Rezakazemi M, Shahidi K, Mohammadi T (2012) Hydrogen separation and purification using crosslinkable PDMS/zeolite a nanoparticles mixed matrix membranes. Int J Hydrogen Energy 37(19):14576–14589
Rezakazemi M, Sadrzadeh M, Matsuura T (2018) Thermally stable polymers for advanced high-performance gas separation membranes. Prog Energy Combust Sci 66:1–41
Boutsika LG, Enotiadis A, Nicotera I, Simari C, Charalambopoulou G, Giannelis EP, Steriotis T (2016) Nafion® nanocomposite membranes with enhanced properties at high temperature and low humidity environments. Int J Hydrogen Energy 41(47):22406–22414
Mohammadi G, Jahanshahi M, Rahimpour A (2013) Fabrication and evaluation of Nafion nanocomposite membrane based on ZrO2–TiO2 binary nanoparticles as fuel cell MEA. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38(22):9387–9394
Hooshyari K, Javanbhakt M, Naji L, Enhessari M (2014) Nanocomposite proton exchange membranes based on Nafion containing Fe2 TiO5 nanoparticles in water and alcohol environments for PEMFC. J Membr Sci 454:74–81
Wang Z, Tang H, Zhang H, Lei M, Chen R, Xiao P, Pan M (2012) Synthesis of Nafion/CeO2 hybrid for chemically durable proton exchange membrane of fuel cell. J Membr Sci 421:201–210
Cozzi D, de Bonis C, D’Epifanio A, Mecheri B, Tavares AC, Licoccia S (2014) Organically functionalized titanium oxide/Nafion composite proton exchange membranes for fuel cells applications. J Power Sources 248:1127–1132
de Bonis C, Cozzi D, Mecheri B, D’Epifanio A, Rainer A, De Porcellenis D, Licoccia S (2014) Effect of filler surface functionalization on the performance of Nafion/Titanium oxide composite membranes. Electrochim Acta 147:418–425
Yang Y, Cuiping H, Beibei J, James I, Chengen H, Dean S, Tao J, Zhiqun L (2016) Graphene-based materials with tailored nanostructures for energy conversion and storage. Mater Sci Eng R Rep 102:1–72
Farooqui U, Ahmad A, Hamid N (2018) Graphene oxide: a promising membrane material for fuel cells. Renew Sust Energy Rev 82:714–733
Tsang AC, Kwok HY, Leung DY (2017) The use of graphene based materials for fuel cell, photovoltaics, and supercapacitor electrode materials. Solid State Sci 67:A1–A14
Das TK, Prusty S (2013) Graphene-based polymer composites and their applications. Polym Plast Technol Eng 52(4):319–331
Zhu C, Dong S (2013) Recent progress in graphene-based nanomaterials as advanced electrocatalysts towards oxygen reduction reaction. Nanoscale 5(5):1753–1767
Fampiou I, Ramasubramaniam A (2012) Binding of Pt nanoclusters to point defects in graphene: adsorption, morphology, and electronic structure. J Phys Chem C 116(11):6543–6555
Liu M, Zhang R, Chen W (2014) Graphene-supported nanoelectrocatalysts for fuel cells: synthesis, properties, and applications. Chem Rev 114(10):5117–5160
Huang H, Chen H, Sun D, Wang X (2012) Graphene nanoplate-Pt composite as a high performance electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells. J Power Sources 204:46–52
Qian W, Hao R, Zhou J, Eastman M, Manhat BA, Sun Q, Andrea MG, Jiao J (2013) Exfoliated graphene-supported Pt and Pt-based alloys as electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells. Carbon 52:595–604
Peng K-J, Lai J-Y, Liu Y-L (2016) Nanohybrids of graphene oxide chemically-bonded with Nafion: preparation and application for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Membr Sci 514:86–94
Zhou X, Tang S, Yin Y, Sun S, Qiao J (2016) Hierarchical porous N-doped graphene foams with superior oxygen reduction reactivity for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Appl Energy 175:459–467
Kirubaharan CJ, Santhakumar K, Gnanankumar G, Senthilkumar N, Jang J (2015) Nitrogen doped graphene sheets as metal free anode catalysts for the high performance microbial fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 40(38):13061–13070
Rezakazemi M, Zhang Z (2018) Desulfurization materials A2—Dincer, Ibrahim comprehensive energy systems. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 944–979
Georgakilas V, Perman JA, Tucek J, Zboril R (2015) Broad family of carbon nanoallotropes: classification, chemistry, and applications of fullerenes, carbon dots, nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamonds, and combined superstructures. Chem Rev 115(11):4744–4822
Akbari E, Buntat Z (2017) Benefits of using carbon nanotubes in fuel cells: a review. Int J Energ Res 41(1):92–102
Ghasemi M, Ismail M, Kamarudin SK, Saeedfar K, Wan Daud WR, Hassan SHA, Heng LY, Alam J, Oh SE (2013) Carbon nanotube as an alternative cathode support and catalyst for microbial fuel cells. Appl Energy 102:1050–1056
Mehdinia A, Ziaei E, Jabbari A (2014) Multi-walled carbon nanotube/SnO2 nanocomposite: a novel anode material for microbial fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 130:512–518
Tohidian M, Ghaffarian SR (2017) Polyelectrolyte nanocomposite membranes with imidazole-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for use in fuel cell applications. J Macromol Sci B 56(10):725–738
Zhang R, He S, Lu Y, Chen W (2015) Fe Co, N-functionalized carbon nanotubes in situ grown on 3D porous N-doped carbon foams as a noble metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction. J Mater Chem A 3(7):3559–3567
Mishra P, Jain R (2016) Electrochemical deposition of MWCNT-MnO2/PPy nano-composite application for microbial fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 41(47):22394–22405
Mirzaei F, Parnian MJ, Rowshanzamir S (2017) Durability investigation and performance study of hydrothermal synthesized platinum-multi walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Energy 138:696–705
Liew KB, Wan Daud WR, Ghasemi M, Loh KS, Ismail M, Lim SS, Leong JX (2015) Manganese oxide/functionalised carbon nanotubes nanocomposite as catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cell. Int J Hydrogen Energy 40(35):11625–11632
Mourya V, Inamdar NN, Tiwari A (2010) Carboxymethyl chitosan and its applications. Adv Mater Lett 1(1):11–33
Vakili M, Rafatullah M, Salamatinia B, Abdullah AZ, Ibrahim MH, Tan KB, Gholami Z, Amouzgar P (2014) Application of chitosan and its derivatives as adsorbents for dye removal from water and wastewater: a review. Carbohyd Polym 113:115–130
Srinivasa P, Tharanathan R (2007) Chitin/chitosan—safe, ecofriendly packaging materials with multiple potential uses. Food Rev Int 23(1):53–72
Lim S-H, Hudson SM (2003) Review of Chitosan and its derivatives as antimicrobial agents and their uses as textile chemicals. J Macromol Sci C Polym Rev 43(2):223–269
Mourya V, Inamdar NN (2009) Trimethyl chitosan and its applications in drug delivery. J Mater Sci Mater Med 20(5):1057
Ilium L (1998) Chitosan and its use as a pharmaceutical excipient. Pharm Res 15(9):1326–1331
Ma J, Sahai Y (2013) Chitosan biopolymer for fuel cell applications. Carbohydr Polym 92(2):955–975
Bai H, Zhang H, He Y, Liu J, Zhang B, Wang J (2014) Enhanced proton conduction of chitosan membrane enabled by halloysite nanotubes bearing sulfonate polyelectrolyte brushes. J Membr Sci 454:220–232
Ma J, Sahai Y, Buchheit RG (2012) Evaluation of multivalent phosphate cross-linked chitosan biopolymer membrane for direct borohydride fuel cells. J Power Sources 202:18–27
Hasani-Sadrabadi MM, Dashtimoghadam E, Mokarram N, Majedi FS, Jacob KI (2012) Triple-layer proton exchange membranes based on chitosan biopolymer with reduced methanol crossover for high-performance direct methanol fuel cells application. Polymer 53(13):2643–2651
Zhou T, He X, Song F, Xie K (2016) Chitosan modified by polymeric reactive dyes containing quanternary ammonium groups as a novel anion exchange membrane for alkaline fuel cells. Int J Electrochem Sci 11(1):590–608
Li P-C, Liao G-M, Rajeshkumar S, Shih C-M, Yang C-C, Wang D-M, Lue SJ (2016) Fabrication and characterization of chitosan nanoparticle-incorporated quaternized poly (vinyl alcohol) composite membranes as solid electrolytes for direct methanol alkaline fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 187:616–628
Santamaria M, Pecoraro CM, Di Quarto F, Bocchetta P (2015) Chitosan–phosphotungstic acid complex as membranes for low temperature H2–O2 fuel cell. J Power Sources 276:189–194
Noroozifar M, Motlagh MK, Kakhki M-S, Roghayeh K-M (2014) Enhanced electrocatalytic properties of Pt–chitosan nanocomposite for direct methanol fuel cell by LaFeO3 and carbon nanotube. J Power Sources 248:130–139
Linlin M, Mishra AK, Kim NH, Lee JH (2012) Poly (2,5-benzimidazole)–silica nanocomposite membranes for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell. J Membr Sci 411:91–98
Chang Y-N, Lai J-Y, Liu Y-L (2012) Polybenzimidazole (PBI)-functionalized silica nanoparticles modified PBI nanocomposite membranes for proton exchange membranes fuel cells. J Membr Sci 403:1–7
Hooshyari K, Javanbhakt M, Shabanikia A, Enhessari M (2015) Fabrication BaZrO3/PBI-based nanocomposite as a new proton conducting membrane for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Power Sources 276:62–72
Devrim Y, Devrim H, Eroglu I (2016) Polybenzimidazole/SiO2 hybrid membranes for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 41(23):10044–10052
Wu J-F, Lo C-F, Li H-Y, Chang C-M, Liao K-S, Hu C-C, Liu Y-L, Lue S-J (2014) Thermally stable polybenzimidazole/carbon nano-tube composites for alkaline direct methanol fuel cell applications. J Power Sources 246:39–48
Özdemir Y, Özkan N, Devrim Y (2017) Fabrication and characterization of cross-linked polybenzimidazole based membranes for high temperature PEM fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 245:1–13
Hogarth WH, Da Costa JD, Lu GM (2005) Solid acid membranes for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Power Sources 142(1):223–237
Tripathi BP, Shahi VK (2007) SPEEK–zirconium hydrogen phosphate composite membranes with low methanol permeability prepared by electro-migration and in situ precipitation. J Colloid Interface Sci 316(2):612–621
Lim SS, Wan Daud WR, Jahim J, Ghasemi M, Chong PS, Ismail M (2012) Sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone)/poly (ether sulfone) composite membranes as an alternative proton exchange membrane in microbial fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 37(15):11409–11424
Jiang Z, Zhao X, Manthiram A (2013) Sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) membranes with sulfonated graphene oxide fillers for direct methanol fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38(14):5875–5884
Heo Y, Im H, Kim J (2013) The effect of sulfonated graphene oxide on sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) membrane for direct methanol fuel cells. J Membr Sci 425:11–22
Wang J, Bai H, Zhang H, Zhao L, Yifan Li C (2015) Anhydrous proton exchange membrane of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) enabled by polydopamine-modified silica nanoparticles. Electrochim Acta 152:443–455
Gang M, He G, Li Z, Cao K, Li Z, Yin Y, Wu H, Jiang Z (2016) Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets/sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) nanocomposite membrane for direct methanol fuel cell application. J Membr Sci 507:1–11
Mossayebi Z, Saririchi T, Rowshanzamir S, Parnian MJ (2016) Investigation and optimization of physicochemical properties of sulfated zirconia/sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) nanocomposite membranes for medium temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 41(28):12293–12306
Rahnavard A, Rowshanzamir S, Parnian MJ, Amirkhanlou GR (2015) The effect of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) as the electrode ionomer for self-humidifying nanocomposite proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Energy 82:746–757
Salarizadeh P, Javanbhakht M, Abdollahi M, Naji L (2013) Preparation, characterization and properties of proton exchange nanocomposite membranes based on poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (sulfonic acid)-grafted silica nanoparticles. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38(13):5473–5479
Liew C-W, Ramesh S, Arof A (2014) A novel approach on ionic liquid-based poly (vinyl alcohol) proton conductive polymer electrolytes for fuel cell applications. Int J Hydrogen Energy 39(6):2917–2928
Beydaghi H, Javanbakht M, Kowsari E (2014) Synthesis and characterization of poly (vinyl alcohol)/sulfonated graphene oxide nanocomposite membranes for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Ind Eng Chem Res 53(43):16621–16632
Mollá S, Compañ V (2015) Nanocomposite SPEEK-based membranes for direct methanol fuel cells at intermediate temperatures. J Membr Sci 492:123–136
Yang J-M, Wang N-C, Chiu H-C (2014) Preparation and characterization of poly (vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate blended membrane for alkaline solid polymer electrolytes membrane. J Membr Sci 457:139–148
Huang C-Y, Lin J-S, Pan W-H, Shih C-M, Liu Y-L, Lue S-J (2016) Alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell performance using alkali-impregnated polyvinyl alcohol/functionalized carbon nano-tube solid electrolytes. J Power Sources 303:267–277
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support from DST Nanomission, India (SR/NM/NS-20/2014), DST, India (DST-TM-WTI-2K14-213) and SERB-DST, India (YSS/2015/000013) for financial support. We also thank Jain University, India for providing facilities.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hegde, R.M., Kurkuri, M.D., Kigga, M. (2019). Current Scenario of Nanocomposite Materials for Fuel Cell Applications. In: Inamuddin, Thomas, S., Kumar Mishra, R., Asiri, A. (eds) Sustainable Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05399-4_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05399-4_20
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05398-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05399-4
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)