Modified Nafion Membranes and Their Properties
Most of the current environmental problems are associated with the process of burning hydrocarbon fuel, which is necessary for generating electricity. Increasing energy consumption can lead to physical depletion of the planet’s mineral reserves. The solution to this issue may be a fuel cell with a polymer electrolyte membrane. The mechanism of action of this fuel cell is to convert the chemical energy of the fuel (H2, CO2, N2, CH3OH, CH4) into electrical energy. The efficiency of a fuel cell can reach 80% when, for example, the performance of an internal combustion engine is only 40%. This is due to the lack of an inefficient fuel combustion process; the only by-product of its work is water. Therefore, the fuel cell is a promising highly efficient and environmentally friendly source of energy. A key component of a fuel cell is an ion-exchange membrane. The membrane is responsible for proton transfer from the anode to the cathode; therefore, the higher its proton conductivity, the more efficient the fuel cell. The article presents the characteristics and modifications of the Nafion membrane, which is the most productive on the market. Modification of Nafion membranes with inorganic and organic compounds can improve their mechanical, thermal and chemical stability, reduce water and methanol permeability, and increase proton conductivity.