Incorporation of H_3PO_4 into three-dimensional polyacrylamide-graft-starch hydrogel frameworks for robust high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

摘要

To enhance the anhydrous proton conductivities of proton exchange membranes, we report here the incorporation of H_3PO_4 into three-dimensional (3D) framework of polyacrylamide-graft-starch (PAAm-g-starch) hydrogel materials using extraordinary absorption of hydrogels to H_3PO_4 aqueous solution. Intrinsic microporous structure can close to seal H_3PO_4 molecules in the interconnected 3D frameworks of PAAm-g-starch after suffering from dehydration. The hydrogel membranes are thoroughly characterized by morphology observation, thermal stability, swelling kinetics, proton-conducting performances as well as electrochemical behaviors. The results show that the H_3PO_4 loadings and therefore the proton conductivities of the hydrogel membranes are dramatically enhanced by employing PAAm-g-starch matrix. H_3PO_4 loading of 88.68 wt% and an anhydrous proton conductivity as high as 0.046 S cm~(-1) at 180 ℃ are recorded. A fuel cell using a thick membrane shows a peak power density of 517 mW cm~(-2) at 180 ℃ by feeding with H_2/O_2 streams. The high H_3PO_4 loading, reasonable proton conductivity in combination with simple preparation, low cost and scalable matrix demonstrates the potential use of PAAm-g-starch hydrogel membranes in high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells.