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Measurement of Water Uptake and States in Nafion Membranes Using Humidity-Controlled Terahertz Time-Domain
George A H Ludlam1, Sam J P Gnaniah2, Riccardo Degl'Innocenti1,3
1Department of Engineering, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, U.K.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
|May 24, 2024
Summary
Terahertz spectroscopy precisely measures water states in Nafion membranes, crucial for optimizing fuel cell performance. This technique offers a faster way to explore membrane properties for improved stability and functionality.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomers, like Nafion, are vital membrane materials.
- Their performance depends on water uptake and stability, presenting a key trade-off.
- Understanding water states is critical for optimizing membrane properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify detailed water information in Nafion membranes using humidity-controlled terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.
- To compare terahertz spectroscopy results with established methods like dynamic vapor sorption and differential scanning calorimetry.
- To demonstrate the utility of terahertz spectroscopy for rapid membrane parameter space investigation.
Main Methods:
- Humidity-controlled terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS).
- Analysis of water states within commercially available Nafion membranes across various humidity levels.
- Comparison of THz-TDS data with results from dynamic vapor sorption (DVS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Main Results:
- Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy effectively resolves different water states within Nafion membranes.
- The results obtained via THz-TDS show qualitative agreement with conventional methods.
- Quantified water information from THz-TDS provides a direct comparison against literature values.
Conclusions:
- Humidity-controlled terahertz time-domain spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterizing water in ionomer membranes.
- This technique enables rapid investigation and optimization of membrane properties for improved performance and stability.
- THz-TDS offers a complementary and efficient approach to traditional water analysis methods.
