abstract
The need for developing more sustainable electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices prompted us to develop novel bio-based membranes based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) to act as an electrolyte in energy conversion devices, such as fuel cells. PLA membranes based on [C(4)C(1)im][PF6] and [C(4)C(1)im][BF4] present different morphologies according to the anion nature and high thermal stability (>300 degrees C). Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analyses show that [C(4)C(1)im][BF4] tends to be isolated inside small pore cavities, which prevents the IL from leaching out of the membranes. Owing to this improved retention capacity of [C(4)C(1)im][BF4] and to the hydrophilic character of the IL anion, the PLA-[C(4)C(1)im][BF4] blends present conductivity values higher than 0.01 S cm(-1) at 98% RH and 94 degrees C. The work further demonstrates the operation of a PLA-[C(4)C(1)im][BF4]-based oxygen/hydrogen fuel cell with an open-circuit voltage above 0.9 V.
keywords
POLY(LACTIDE) STEREOCOMPLEXES; PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES; POLYLACTIC ACID; LIQUIDS; TETRAFLUOROBORATE; DEGRADATION; WATER
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Materials Science
authors
Barbosa, PC; Mickalev, S; Barros-Timmons, A; Figueiredo, FM
our authors
Ana Margarida Madeira Viegas de Barros Timmons
Assistant Professor
Filipe Miguel H Lebre R Figueiredo
Principal Researcher
Paula Cristina Vieira Barbosa
Junior Researcher
Sergey Mikhalev
Post-Doc FellowshipGroups
1 - inorganic functional nanomaterials and organic-inorganic hybrids
3 - carbon materials, composites and functional coatings
Projects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the projects CICECO.Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020) and UniRCell (ref. SAICTPAC-00322015, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422), financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES (FCT I.P.) and when appropriate cofinanced by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. The research contract of P.B. is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19. The ILs, [C4C1im][PF6] and [C4C1im][BF4], were kindly supplied by Joa~o A. P. Coutinho's research group at CICECO Portugal.