Highly enhanced proton conductivity of single-step-functionalized graphene oxide/nafion electrolyte membrane towards improved hydrogen fuel cell performance

Acidic group functionalized graphene oxide (GO) as a filler to the state-of-art Nafion electrolytes are regarded as potential materials towards next-generation fuel cell application. However, the tedious synthesis process for GO functionalization, and aggravated chemical durability at high temperatures demands the scientific community to design suitable Nafion-based functionalized GO electrolytes with superior proton conductivity and power density at actual fuel cell conditions i.e., 80 degrees C and 100% relative humidity (RH). Herein, a potential single-step-phosphorylated graphene oxide (sPGO) modified Nafion (sPGO/NF) is introduced to simultaneously multifold the proton conductivity, chemical durability, and power density of Nafion. Under actual fuel cell conditions, the sPGO/NF exhibits maximum proton conductivity (0.306 Scm(-1)) which is 1.7-fold and 1.6-fold higher than that of rNF and GO/NF, respectively. Moreover, sPGO/NF achieves the maximum power density of 0.652 Wcm(-2) (80 degrees C, 100% RH), much higher than the rNF (0.51 Wcm(-2)) and GO/NF (0.53 Wcm(-2)) at same condition. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Acidic group functionalized graphene oxide (GO) is used to improve the quality of state-of-the-art Nafion electrolytes for next-generation fuel cell application. Single-step-phosphorylated graphene oxide (sPGO) modified Nafion (sPGO/NF) achieves high proton conductivity, chemical durability, and power density under actual fuel cell conditions.