Article: The impact of zirconia nano-rods on the methanol permeability and conductivity of Nafion®-ZrO2 nano-composite membrane Journal: International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties (IJMMP) 2018 Vol.13 No.6 pp.381 - 402 Abstract: The aim of this paper is to observe the effect of zirconia nanofiller on methanol crossover, mechanical strength and conductivity of modified Nafion® membranes. The impregnation of zirconia nano-rods within the Nafion® matrix obtained the improvements on modulus of elastic in both the dry and wet state, with a decrease in the water contact angle, owing to the hydrophilic phase domains in the nano-composite membrane. The proton conductivity of the Nafion® 117 membrane was 0.113 S/cm lower than 0.139 S/cm of the modified Nafion®/Zr-50 nano-composite membrane. This may be due to the zirconia nanofiller that retains water within the membrane, which enhances the thermal stability and conductivity of the membrane. In contrast, the electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) of the modified Nafion® membrane is higher than that of the Nafion® 117 membrane. The methanol permeability of nano-composite membranes was lower than that of the Nafion® 117 membrane at 5 M concentration of the methanol solution. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The impact of zirconia nano-rods on the methanol permeability and conductivity of Nafion^®-ZrO₂ nano-composite membrane

Authors: R. Sigwadi; M.S. Dhlamini; T. Mokrani; P. Nonjola; F. Nemavhola

Addresses: Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering, University of South Africa, 0001, South Africa ' Department of Physics, University of South Africa, 0001, South Africa ' Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering, University of South Africa, 0001, South Africa ' Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of South Africa, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to observe the effect of zirconia nanofiller on methanol crossover, mechanical strength and conductivity of modified Nafion^® membranes. The impregnation of zirconia nano-rods within the Nafion^® matrix obtained the improvements on modulus of elastic in both the dry and wet state, with a decrease in the water contact angle, owing to the hydrophilic phase domains in the nano-composite membrane. The proton conductivity of the Nafion^® 117 membrane was 0.113 S/cm lower than 0.139 S/cm of the modified Nafion^®/Zr-50 nano-composite membrane. This may be due to the zirconia nanofiller that retains water within the membrane, which enhances the thermal stability and conductivity of the membrane. In contrast, the electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) of the modified Nafion^® membrane is higher than that of the Nafion^® 117 membrane. The methanol permeability of nano-composite membranes was lower than that of the Nafion^® 117 membrane at 5 M concentration of the methanol solution.

Keywords: zirconia nanoparticles; nano-composite membranes; water contact angle; permeability; conductivity; modulus of elastic.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2018.097780

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2018 Vol.13 No.6, pp.381 - 402

Received: 12 Feb 2018
Accepted: 30 Jul 2018
Published online: 09 Feb 2019 *

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Title: The impact of zirconia nano-rods on the methanol permeability and conductivity of Nafion®-ZrO2 nano-composite membrane

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Title: The impact of zirconia nano-rods on the methanol permeability and conductivity of Nafion^®-ZrO₂ nano-composite membrane