Water uptake profile in a model ion-exchange membrane: Conditions for water-rich channels

被引:15
作者
Herbst, Daniel C. [1 ,2 ]
Witten, Thomas A. [1 ,2 ]
Tsai, Tsung-Han [3 ]
Coughlin, E. Bryan [3 ]
Maes, Ashley M. [4 ]
Herring, Andrew M. [4 ]
机构
[1] Univ Chicago, James Franck Inst, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
[2] Univ Chicago, Dept Phys, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
[3] Univ Massachusetts, Dept Polymer Sci & Engn, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
[4] Colorado Sch Mines, Dept Chem & Biol Engn, Golden, CO 80401 USA
关键词
POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE; ALKALINE FUEL-CELLS; DIBLOCK COPOLYMER; BLOCK-COPOLYMERS; MOLECULAR-WEIGHT; LAYERS; CATHODES; BRUSHES; POLYELECTROLYTES; HOMOPOLYMER;
D O I
10.1063/1.4914512
中图分类号
O64 [物理化学(理论化学)、化学物理学];
学科分类号
070304 ; 081704 ;
摘要
Ionic conductivity in a polymeric fuel cell requires water uptake. Previous theoretical studies of water uptake used idealized parameters. We report a parameter-free prediction of the water-swelling behavior of a model fuel cell membrane. The model polymers, poly(methyl-butylene)-block-poly(vinylbenzyl-trimethylamine), form lamellar domains that absorb water in humid air. We use the Scheutjens-Fleer methodology to predict the resulting change in lamellar structure and compare with x-ray scattering. The results suggest locally uniform water distributions. However, under conditions where a PVBTMA and water mixture phase-separate, the two phases arrange into stripes with a dilute stripe sandwiched between two concentrated stripes. A small amount of water enhances conductivity most when it is partitioned into such channels, improving fuel-cell performance. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.
引用
收藏
页数:21
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