Application of Nanocomposite Membranes in Fuel Cells to Produce Green Energy | WPN World People News

Fuel cells have important applications in transportation industry, power plants (including domestic, commercial and industrial), portable electronic devices, including cell phones and laptops, and other issues.

Therefore, it is necessary to carry out researches on the production of various types of membranes to be used in fuel cells. In order to reduce production costs, researchers from Iran's Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI) succeeded in the production of nanocomposite membranes to be mostly used in the structure of fuel cells.

Membranes that are currently used in fuel cells are usually expensive and they have short life. The method presented in this research to produce membranes is simple and cost-effective, and the membranes synthesized through this method are cheaper but more durable in comparison with the similar samples in the market.

A new type of nanocomposite proton exchanging polymeric membranes based on polyvinyl alcohol and fumed silica nanoparticles attached to the hydrophilic polymer was produced through aqueous solution casting method to develop novel methods in the production of high temperature membranes. The structure and performance of the membranes were tested by using various experiments.

Based on the results, the presence of hydrophilic polymeric chains on fumed silica nanoparticles increases characteristics, including proton conduction and mechanical strength, of polymeric membranes. It means an increase in the resistance and life of the membranes.

Source: Nanotechnology Now