Effects of Sol–Gel Modification on the Microstructure of Nafion Membranes
Mensharapov R.M. Ivanova N.A. Bakirov A.V. Semkina A.S. Patsaev T.D. Sinyakov M.V. Klein O.I. Dmitryakov P.V. Zhang C. Spasov D.D.
June 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Polymers
2025#17Issue 11
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is a key component of PEM fuel cells, where the membrane plays a decisive role in determining system efficiency and overall performance. The modification of PEMs with hydrophilic dopants represents a promising strategy for extending the operational range of these devices, particularly in low-humidity and high-temperature regimes. In this study, Nafion membranes were modified with silica nanoparticles via the sol–gel method; samples with 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt.% of SiO2 were obtained. Evaluation of key parameters demonstrated improvement of water uptake and proton conductivity for modified membranes with silica content up to 5 wt.%, while no significant changes in thermal stability (30–700 °C) were observed. The structural changes in the composite membranes were investigated using the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. SAXS data were analyzed using a model-dependent approach: the spherical ionic domain model was modified to account for the scattering contribution from silica nanoparticles. The results obtained demonstrated a reduction in the size of unmodified ionic domains, indicating reorganization of the composite membrane’s microstructure.
ionic domains , Nafion , proton exchange membrane , silica nanoparticles , small-angle X-ray scattering , sol–gel method
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National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 1, Akademika Kurchatova sq., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation
“D.V. Sokolsky Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, 142 Kunayev Str., Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117393, Russian Federation
Department of Isotope Technology and Hydrogen Energy, Institute of Modern Energetics and Nanotechnology, D. Mendeleev, University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Miusskaya sq., 9, Moscow, 125047, Russian Federation
Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russian Federation
College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute”, 14, Krasnokazarmennaya St., Moscow, 111250, Russian Federation
National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”
“D.V. Sokolsky Institute of Fuel
Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials
Department of Isotope Technology and Hydrogen Energy
Bach Institute of Biochemistry
College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering
National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute”
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