Polyamide-coated Nafion composite membranes with reduced hydrogen crossover produced via interfacial polymerization

Nafion, a perfluoro-sulfonic acid (PFSA)-based polymer, is a promising material that will help realize the commercialization of proton exchange membrane-based fuel cells (PEMFCs) and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). However, Nafion also exhibits reduced mechanical and dimensional stability and increased hydrogen crossover under cell operating conditions in real operational settings, that is, in a hydrated state or in water at 60-80 degrees C. These factors may negatively affect cell efficiency and durability and thus must be addressed. To overcome these limitations, polyamide-coated Nafion composite membranes were developed for the first time via interfacial polymerization. 3,5-Diaminobenzoic acid (DABA), which contains carboxyl functional groups, was used as a monomer to add hydrophilicity to the membrane, and the coating layer thickness was controlled by adjusting the DABA content. A nanoscale polyamide (PA) layer was coated on the surface of Nafion-212 to fabricate a membrane, PA-c3-Nafion. PA-c3-Nafion was found to show ion conductivity 13.6% higher than that of a pristine Nafion-212 membrane at 80 degrees C, while providing improved mechanical performance and dimensional stability. In particular, at 95% RH, the hydrogen permeability of PA-c3-Nafion was 16.4% lower than that of Nafion-212 while, in a fully hydrated state, the hydrogen permeability of PA-c3-Nafion was 21.2% lower than that of Nafion-212. The LSV test results also showed that the degree of hydrogen crossover was significantly lower in PA-c3-Nafion than in Nafion-212. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.