Polynorepinephrine-regulated filler sulfonation toward interfacial reformation and conductive promotion of nanocomposite proton exchange membrane

Interfacial compatibility between filler and matrix substantially affects the overall morphology and performance of nanocomposites. Compared with bare montmorillonite (MMT), surface modified product such as sulfonated MMT (SMMT) has been known to render optimized interfacial compatibility in composite proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Nevertheless, in-depth understanding and investigation on the sulfonation of MMT are seldom focused, such as uniformity and sufficiency. Herein, these broadly neglected issues are proposed and resolved using an exemplary polynorepinephrine (PNE)-regulated SMMT (SNMMT). Rather than direct sulfonation utilizing the inherent hydroxyl groups of MMT, a PNE coating with ample hydroxyl groups is deposited on MMT beforehand, which results in more homogeneous and sufficient sulfonation of SNMMT. Compared with normal SMMT, this alteration on surficial geography of filler functionalization brings significant benefits when composited with Nafion matrix, including harmonized filler-matrix compatibility, improved mechanical stability and enhanced proton conduction. Moreover, the antioxidative ability of PNE layer enables improved chemical stability of nanocomposite PEM. The Nafion/SNMMT composite PEM achieves 0.275 S cm−1 proton conductivity at 95 °C in water, evidently beyond any previously reported composite PEMs using normal SMMT. Equipped with this reformed nanocomposite PEM, both PEMFC and DMFC display competitive peak power densities (1.121 W cm−2 with H2/O2 at 80 °C/100 % relative humidity (RH) for PEMFC, and 0.228 W cm−2 with 1.6 M methanol/100 % RH O2 for DMFC), and simultaneously show minor performance deteriorations in constant current density operation and RH cycle tests. It would be instructive the specific focus and reformation on the uniformity and sufficiency of filler modification may render significant interface and performance advancements for nanocomposites.