Unveiling the multiscale morphology of chemically stabilized proton exchange membranes for fuel cells by means of Fourier and real space studies.

ABSTRACT: We recently presented the elaboration and functional properties of a new generation of hybrid membranes for PEMFC applications showing promising performances and durability. The strategy was to form, inside a commercial sPEEK membrane, via in situ sol-gel (SG) synthesis, a reactive SG phase able to reduce oxidative species generated during FC operation. In order to understand structure-properties interplay, we use a combination of direct space (AFM/3D FIB-SEM) and reciprocal space (SANS/WAXS) techniques to cover dimensional scales ranging from a hundred to few nanometers. AFM modulus images showed the SG phase distributed into spherical domains whose size increases with the SG uptake (ca. 100-200 nm range). Using contrast variation SANS, we observed that the sPEEK nanostructu

SUBMITTER: Huynh N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9418181 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature