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Preparation and Characterisation of Novel Composites Based on a Radiation Grafted Membrane for Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Çilingir Doğan H. D.,
Alkan Gürsel S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201000153
Subject(s) - etfe , materials science , tetrafluoroethylene , membrane , composite material , styrene , layer (electronics) , polymerization , chemical engineering , composite number , deposition (geology) , polypyrrole , platinum , conductivity , nafion , polymer chemistry , polymer , chemistry , copolymer , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , electrode , paleontology , biochemistry , engineering , biology , sediment
Novel composites for fuel cells were prepared via two different methods using a radiation grafted membrane, prepared from poly(ethylene‐ alt ‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) and styrene, and commercial Nafion®112 as the substrates. The first method was based on chemical polymerisation of pyrrole (Py) on the membrane followed by platinum (Pt) deposition by chemical reduction. The second method was based on direct deposition of Pt on the membrane by several steps of initial composite formation and surface electrodeposition. Polypyrrole (PPy) was coated as a layer only on the surface of the membrane. The thickness of PPy layer, proton conductivity of the composites and Pt loading could be controlled with Py polymerisation time. Moreover, the deposition of Pt on the surface as the granular particles was achieved by the first method while Pt deposition occurred as the aggregates of particles on the surface of the membrane by the second method which yielded wavy and rough surfaces. The first method offered a simple, quick, reproducible and effective procedure, yet some of the Pt particles peeled off from the surface of the composites. The second method required complex, multistep and tedious procedure with a high amount of Pt precursor, while Pt particles were more stable in this case.