Synthesis, structure and properties of composite proton-conducting membranes based on a Nafion-type perfluorinated copolymer with Zr1−xYxO2−0.5x nanoparticles
A. N. Bugrov,
G. N. Gubanova,
O. N. Primachenko,
I. V. Gofman,
E. M. Ivan’kova,
E. N. Popova,
D. A. Kirilenko,
V. K. Lavrentyev,
E. N. Vlasova,
S. V. Kononova https://doi.org/10.17586/2220-8054-2025-16-6-850-864
Abstract
Zr1−xYxO2−0.5x nanoparticles were introduced into the sulfonic acid form of the Nafion-type perfluorinated copolymer prior to membrane formation to improve its water retention, thermal stability, and proton conductivity. Since the conditions under which nanoparticles are formed can significantly influence their size, phase composition, morphology, and surface chemistry, various approaches to filler synthesis were considered in this study. It was found that among the wet-chemical methods used to produce zirconia-based nanoparticles, solvothermal synthesis offers the most promise in terms of increasing the surface proton conductivity of composite membranes. This method ensures small size, large specific surface area, and high hydrophilicity of the nanoparticles. Consequently, their incorporation into a Nafion-type perfluorinated copolymer increases the membrane’s moisture retention and improves to its proton-conducting properties. In the case of Zr1−xYxO2−0.5x nanoparticles formed under solution combustion conditions, their more hydrophobic surface did not contribute to an increase in the moisture content of the perfluorinated copolymer, but did allow its maximum operating temperature to be increased by 20 ◦C.
Keywords
proton conductivity,
impedance spectroscopy,
yttria-stabilized zirconia,
glycine-nitrate combustion,
sol-gel,
hydrothermal synthesis,
solvothermal method
Supporting agencies: The authors thank D. A. Gavrilova, M. A. Gavrilova, and N. S. Kormiltsina, students of the St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University), for their assistance in determining the conditions for producing nanoparticles. The authors also thank senior researcher G. V. Vaganov and senior laboratory assistant V. D. Vavilova from the NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC for measuring the contact angle of the composite membranes and determining their bulk proton conductivity, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed using equipment from the Engineering Center of the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology. TEM studies were performed using equipment of the Federal Joint Research Center “Material science and characterization in advanced technology” supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. The research work was carried out within the framework of State Programs of Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B. P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” – Institute of Macromolecular Compounds (Project 122012000452-9).
About the Authors
A. N. Bugrov
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC; Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (ETU “LETI”)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alexander Nikolaevich Bugrov- Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov; Department of Physical Chemistry
St. Petersburg, 199004
G. N. Gubanova
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Galina Nikolaevna Gubanova – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
O. N. Primachenko
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Oleg Nikolaevich Primachenko – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
I. V. Gofman
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Iosif Vladimirovich Gofman – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
E. M. Ivan’kova
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena Mikhailovna Ivan’kova – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
E. N. Popova
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena Nikolaevna Popova – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
D. A. Kirilenko
Ioffe Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Demid Aleksandrovich Kirilenko
St. Petersburg, 194021
V. K. Lavrentyev
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Victor Konstantinovich Lavrentyev – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
E. N. Vlasova
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena Nikolaevna Vlasova – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
S. V. Kononova
NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI – IMC
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Svetlana Viktorovna Kononova – Branch of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov
St. Petersburg, 199004
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Review
For citations:
Bugrov A.N., Gubanova G.N., Primachenko O.N., Gofman I.V., Ivan’kova E.M., Popova E.N., Kirilenko D.A., Lavrentyev V.K., Vlasova E.N., Kononova S.V. Synthesis, structure and properties of composite proton-conducting membranes based on a Nafion-type perfluorinated copolymer with Zr1−xYxO2−0.5x nanoparticles. Nanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. 2025;16(6):850-864. https://doi.org/10.17586/2220-8054-2025-16-6-850-864
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