Original Fuel‐Cell Membranes from Crosslinked Terpolymers via a “Sol–gel” Strategy |
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Authors: | Ozlem Sel Aurélien Soulès Bruno Améduri Bernard Boutevin Christel Laberty‐Robert Gérard Gebel Clément Sanchez |
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Affiliation: | 1. Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris University Paris06, CNRS, UMR7574, Collège de France 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris (France);2. Equipe Ingénierie et Architectures Macromoléculaires Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR 5253 CNRS ENSCM UMI UMII Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier 8 Rue de l′Ecole Normale, 34296 Montpellier Cedex 05 (France);3. Structure et Propriétés des Architectures Moléculaires UMR 5819 (CEA‐CNRS‐UJF), INAC SPrAM, CEA Grenoble 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, Cedex 9 (France) |
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Abstract: | Hybrid organic/inorganic membranes that include a functionalized (‐SO3H), interconnected silica network, a non‐porogenic organic matrix, and a ‐SO3H‐functionalized terpolymer are synthesized through a sol–gel‐based strategy. The use of a novel crosslinkable poly(vinylidene fluoride‐ter‐perfluoro(4‐methyl‐3,6‐dioxaoct‐7‐ene sulfonyl fluoride)‐ter‐vinyltriethoxysilane) (poly(VDF‐ter‐PFSVE‐ter‐VTEOS)) terpolymer allows a multiple tuning of the different interfaces to produce original hybrid membranes with improved properties. The synthesized terpolymer and the composite membranes are characterized, and the proton conductivity of a hybrid membrane in the absence of the terpolymer is promising, since 8 mS cm?1 is reached at room temperature, immersed in water, with an experimental ion‐exchange‐capacity (IECexp) value of 0.4 meq g?1. Furthermore, when the composite membranes contain the interfaced terpolymer, they exhibit both a higher proton conductivity (43 mS cm?1 at 65 °C under 100% relative humidity) and better stability than the standard hybrid membrane, arising from the occurrence of a better interface between the inorganic silica and the poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐co‐hexafluoropropylene] (poly(VDF‐co‐HFP)) copolymer network. Accordingly, the hybrid SiO2‐SO3H/terpolymer/poly(VDF‐co‐HFP) copolymer membrane has potential use as an electrolyte in a polymer‐electrolyte‐membrane fuel cell operating at intermediate temperatures. |
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Keywords: | Composite Materials Fuel Cells Hybrid Materials Functionalized Silica Networks |
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