Novel zirconium phosphate/MXene/ionic liquid membranes for PEM fuel cells operating up to 145°C

In this work, zirconium phosphate, MXene, and a hexyl-based ionic liquid were incorporated into a porous PTFE polymer to synthesize novel composite proton exchange membranes (PEM) for fuel cell applications. The synthesized composite membranes were evaluated for their conductivity at temperatures above the boiling point of water as well as their water uptake properties, thermal stability, surface morphology, and structural characteristics via several characterization techniques. It was observed that the inclusion of MXene had a direct impact on the thermal stability of these membranes and caused substantial structural modifications within the membrane's matrix. The fabricated membranes displayed a high proton conductivity at room temperature, reaching a peak of approximately 10-2 S/cm when all materials were combined. The membranes exhibited good proton conductivity of 10-4 S/cm at high temperature ranges up to 145degree celsius and appeared to be stable at higher temperatures, as thermogravimetric analyses showed. The results reported here demonstrate the suitability of the MXene-based synthesized membranes for hydrogen-fueled PEM fuel cell applications. This, in turn, will contribute to enhanced energy efficiency and cleaner energy transition.