Preparation of Nafion® nanocomposite membrane modified by phosphoric acid-functionalized 3-APTES

We have fabricated a fuel cell nanocomposite membrane based on Nafion (R)/conductive inorganic materials. To introduce inorganic materials into Nafion (R) membrane, 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3-APTES) was reacted with sulfuric acid groups of Nafion (R) and the obtained membrane was subject to reacting with phosphoric acid to bestow proton conductivity. Methanol permeability for the modified membranes was found to be at least 50% lower than for Nation (R). The proton conductivity of the membrane showed maximum conductivity of 0.07 S/cm at 3 wt% of APTES, which was comparable with the conductivity of Nation (R). (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.