COMPOSITE NAFION/TiO2MEMBRANESFOR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS.

Nafion/oxide composite membranes were produced by pulsed laser ablation method using UV laser pulses generated by a COMPEXPro 205 KrF* excimer laser source λ = 248 nm and τFWHM ≈ 25 ns. We selected TiO₂ material and distributed it uniformly over the surface of Nafion 112 membrane using 100 and 250 laser pulses and an incident laser fluence set at 5 J cm^–2 were applied to improve the water retention property and corresponding proton conductivity under high temperature operating conditions. TGA and DSC methods were used to characterize the thermal stability of the membranes. Furthermore, UV-Vis spectroscopy experiments showed incorporation of the inorganic phase in the polymer matrix. Water uptake and proton conductivity characterizations of the Nafion composite membranes were carried out, and the results demonstrated that there was higher water uptake and an increased proton conductivity at 120 °C temperature, compared with Nafion 112 membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]