{"title":"MWCNT-infused polyaniline composite–based bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells fabricated via 3D printing","authors":"Dinesh Kumar Madheswaran, Praveenkumar Thangavelu","doi":"10.1007/s11581-024-05743-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates twin screw extruded multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–infused polyaniline (PANI) composite–based bipolar plates (BPPs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fabricated via fused deposition modelling (FDM). The 3D-printed composite plates with varying MWCNT proportions (5–30 wt%) were subjected to extensive characterization, including morphological study, thermal, mechanical, electrochemical corrosion, and electrical characteristics analysis. The plates with 25 wt% MWCNT (MWCNT<sub>25</sub>-PANI<sub>75</sub>) outperformed the US Department of Energy (US DoE) objectives with their high mechanical strengths exceeding 40 MPa and high thermal conductivity of 20.29 W/mK at 80 °C. Corrosion analysis showed that MWCNT<sub>25</sub>-PANI<sub>75</sub> substantially improved corrosion resistance with a corrosion potential (<i>E</i><sub>corr</sub>) of − 152.60 mV, a corrosion current density (<i>I</i><sub>corr</sub>) of 0.19 µA/cm<sup>2</sup>, and a protection efficiency (<i>P.E.</i>) of 97.29%. However, the MWCNT<sub>25</sub>-PANI<sub>75</sub> plate is deficient in electrical properties, with an in-plane conductivity exhibited at 80.15 S/cm, which falls short of the DoE objective of 100 S/cm, demonstrating the difficulties of combining conductivity optimization with other factors. In a single-cell PEMFC system, MWCNT<sub>25</sub>-PANI<sub>75</sub> achieved power densities of 533.91 mW/cm<sup>2</sup>, demonstrating its practicability. Further research is called for to enhance conductivity through covalent functionalization of MWCNTs, aiming to meet the US DoE targets and improve overall efficiency.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\n","PeriodicalId":599,"journal":{"name":"Ionics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Ionics","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-024-05743-7","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study investigates twin screw extruded multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–infused polyaniline (PANI) composite–based bipolar plates (BPPs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fabricated via fused deposition modelling (FDM). The 3D-printed composite plates with varying MWCNT proportions (5–30 wt%) were subjected to extensive characterization, including morphological study, thermal, mechanical, electrochemical corrosion, and electrical characteristics analysis. The plates with 25 wt% MWCNT (MWCNT25-PANI75) outperformed the US Department of Energy (US DoE) objectives with their high mechanical strengths exceeding 40 MPa and high thermal conductivity of 20.29 W/mK at 80 °C. Corrosion analysis showed that MWCNT25-PANI75 substantially improved corrosion resistance with a corrosion potential (Ecorr) of − 152.60 mV, a corrosion current density (Icorr) of 0.19 µA/cm2, and a protection efficiency (P.E.) of 97.29%. However, the MWCNT25-PANI75 plate is deficient in electrical properties, with an in-plane conductivity exhibited at 80.15 S/cm, which falls short of the DoE objective of 100 S/cm, demonstrating the difficulties of combining conductivity optimization with other factors. In a single-cell PEMFC system, MWCNT25-PANI75 achieved power densities of 533.91 mW/cm2, demonstrating its practicability. Further research is called for to enhance conductivity through covalent functionalization of MWCNTs, aiming to meet the US DoE targets and improve overall efficiency.
期刊介绍:
Ionics is publishing original results in the fields of science and technology of ionic motion. This includes theoretical, experimental and practical work on electrolytes, electrode, ionic/electronic interfaces, ionic transport aspects of corrosion, galvanic cells, e.g. for thermodynamic and kinetic studies, batteries, fuel cells, sensors and electrochromics. Fast solid ionic conductors are presently providing new opportunities in view of several advantages, in addition to conventional liquid electrolytes.