Investigation of local environments in Nafion-SiO(2) composite membranes used in vanadium redox flow batteries

Vijayakumar, M; Schwenzer, B; Kim, S; Yang, Z; Thevuthasan, S; Liu, J; Graff, GL; Hu, J

HERO ID

5037823

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2012

Language

English

PMID

22192576

HERO ID 5037823
In Press No
Year 2012
Title Investigation of local environments in Nafion-SiO(2) composite membranes used in vanadium redox flow batteries
Authors Vijayakumar, M; Schwenzer, B; Kim, S; Yang, Z; Thevuthasan, S; Liu, J; Graff, GL; Hu, J
Journal Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Volume 42
Page Numbers 71-80
Abstract Proton conducting polymer composite membranes are of technological interest in many energy devices such as fuel cells and redox flow batteries. In particular, polymer composite membranes, such as SiO(2) incorporated Nafion membranes, are recently reported as highly promising for the use in redox flow batteries. However, there is conflicting reports regarding the performance of this type of Nafion-SiO(2) composite membrane in the redox flow cell. This paper presents results of the analysis of the Nafion-SiO(2) composite membrane used in a vanadium redox flow battery by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The XPS study reveals the chemical identity and environment of vanadium cations accumulated at the surface. On the other hand, the (19)F and (29)Si NMR measurement explores the nature of the interaction between the silica particles, Nafion side chains and diffused vanadium cations. The (29)Si NMR shows that the silica particles interact via hydrogen bonds with the sulfonic groups of Nafion and the diffused vanadium cations. Based on these spectroscopic studies, the chemical environment of the silica particles inside the Nafion membrane and their interaction with diffusing vanadium cations during flow cell operations are discussed. This study discusses the origin of performance degradation of the Nafion-SiO(2) composite membrane materials in vanadium redox flow batteries.
Doi 10.1016/j.ssnmr.2011.11.005
Pmid 22192576
Wosid WOS:000302493200010
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English