What is it about?
In this work, the thermal-optical characterization of Nafion in acid form was performed by Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, Thermogrametry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. In the experimental procedure were considered three distinct hydration levels: (1) pristine membrane; (2) swelling process; (3) and drying at controlled room temperature after swelling process.
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Why is it important?
The Nafion membranes are widely used in electrochemical applications such as fuel cells, chlor-alkali cells, and actuators/sensors. The found behaviors showed significant irreversible structural changes induced by water retention in the membrane. These structural changes depend on the water population present in the clusters and affect as well the directional thermal diffusivity of the membrane irreversibly.
Perspectives
Photoacoustic spectroscopy allowed a nondestructive investigative analysis NIR and mid-IR spectra in hydrated Nafion-H and monitored their hydration before saturation. The membrane spectroscopic study indicated the different behaviors of the OH absorption bands (CSW and CCW) which suggested the constant reorganization of ion exchange and/or the possible plasticizing effect of water mainly for hydration-dehydration processes. The observed features showed that PAS along with thermal analysis could be useful tools to understand other processes involving structural changes of perfluorinated polymer.
Professor Daniele T Dias
Federal University of Technology - Paraná
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Thermo-Optical Properties of Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Membranes: An Investigation of Hydration Based on Absorption Spectra, Applied Spectroscopy, August 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0003702817723649.
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