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Precise Molecular‐Level Modification of Nafion with Bismuth Oxide Clusters for High‐performance Proton‐Exchange Membranes
Author(s) -
Liu Bailing,
Hu Bo,
Du Jing,
Cheng Dongming,
Zang HongYing,
Ge Xin,
Tan Huaqiao,
Wang Yonghui,
Duan Xiaozheng,
Jin Zhao,
Zhang Wei,
Li Yangguang,
Su Zhongmin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202012079
Subject(s) - nafion , membrane , conductivity , chemical engineering , materials science , electrolyte , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , oxide , ionic conductivity , proton transport , polyoxometalate , methanol , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , catalysis , metallurgy , biochemistry , engineering
Fabricating proton exchange membranes (PEMs) with high ionic conductivity and ideal mechanical robustness through regulation of the membrane microstructures achieved by molecular‐level hybridization remains essential but challenging for the further development of high‐performance PEM fuel cells. In this work, by precisely hybridizing nano‐scaled bismuth oxide clusters into Nafion, we have fabricated the high‐performance hybrid membrane, Nafion‐Bi 12 ‐3 %, which showed a proton conductivity of 386 mS cm −1 at 80 °C in aqueous solution with low methanol permeability, and conserved the ideal mechanical and chemical stabilities as PEMs. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to clarify the structural properties and the assembly mechanisms of the hybrid membrane on the molecular level. The maximum current density and power density of Nafion‐Bi 12 ‐3 % for direct methanol fuel cells reached to 432.7 mA cm −2 and 110.2 mW cm −2 , respectively. This work provides new insights into the design of versatile functional polymer electrolyte membranes through polyoxometalate hybridization.