Aligned and Dipole-polarization Proton Transporting Channels of Stretched Nafion/PVDF(vinylidene fluoride) Blend Membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
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초록
내용
Nafion and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend membranes are introduced for realizing the controlled nanostructure of the membrane for high proton conduction. In particular, PVDF can align dipole polarization between fluorine and hydrogen atoms by mechanical stretching, forming beta-phase crystalline structure with all trans chain conformation. Moreover, the hydrophilic sulfonic acid groups of Nafion are successfully aligned in the in-plane direction by stretching conditions. Both of the aligned nanostructure of Nafion and dipole polarized molecular arrangement of the Nafion/PVDF blend membranes enhance the proton conduction through the membrane for operating PEMFC. Furthermore, the increased proton conductivity of the blend membranes gives rise to increasing the proton conduction at the interface between the membrane and cathode catalyst layer of the membrane electrode assembly with enhanced the electrochemical surface area for high power generation of PEMFCs.