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Scanning Force Microscopy Study of Phase Segregation in Fuel Cell Membrane Materials as a Function of Solvent Polarity and Relative Humidity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Marilyn Hawley ,
Yu Seung Kim  and
Rex P. Hjelm
Marilyn Hawley
Affiliation:
hawley@lanl.gov, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Yu Seung Kim
Affiliation:
yskim@lanl.gov, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Rex P. Hjelm
Affiliation:
hjelm@lanl.gov, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
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Abstract

Scanning force microscopy (SFM) phase imaging provides a powerful method for directly studying and comparing phase segregation in fuel cell membrane materials due to different preparation and under different temperature and humidity exposures. In this work, we explored two parameters that can influence phase segregation: the properties of the solvents used in casting membrane films and how these solvents alter phase segregation after exposure to boiling water as a function of time. SFM was used under ambient conditions to image phase segregation in Nafion samples prepared using five different solvents. Samples were then subjected to water vapor maintained at 100°C for periods ranging from 30 minutes to three hours and re-imaged using the same phase imaging conditions. SFM shows what appears to be an increase in phase segregation as a function of solvent polarity that changes as a function of water exposure.

Keywords

polymernanostructurescanning probe microscopy (SPM)
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1213: Symposium T – Nanomaterials for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells , 2009 , 1213-T02-09
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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