INFLUENCE OF THE HYDROXYAPATITE AND FUNCTIONALIZATION ON THE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF PVDF FUEL CELLS MEMBRANES

Reference	Presenter	Authors (Institution)	Abstract
06-173	JÚNIO AUGUSTO RODRIGUES PASQUAL	PASQUAL, J.R.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul); Pereira, B.L.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul); Dick, T.A.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul); Santos, L.A.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul); de Sousa, V.C.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul); Jurado, J.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul);	The search for energy sources whose be less damaging to the environment and have a cost that makes them accessible is the subject of several researches. It is also has as concern the need that this searches have the biggest efficiency possible. One of this energy searches that is studied frequently and is becoming increasingly viable for the fuel cells energy generation. Among the existing fuel cells the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are an interesting option in low temperature energy generation. PEMFC uses Nafion® as polymer membrane, which promotes the protons passage and inhibits the electrons passage, forcing the latter to follow another path, which leads to the energy generation. The ceramic filler addiction in polymer membranes is used with the object to increase the work temperature and promote more conductivity. Although the good applying in fuell cells, the Nafion® is very expensive, which difficult the PEMFC utilization as energy source. The paper in question aims to test a possible substitute for Nafion®, the poli(vinylidene fluorite) (PVDF) that is more accessible than Nafion®, leading to the increase of the PEMFC application. The membranes studied here have an addiction ceramic material as filler (hydroxyapatite) in order to increase its conductivity. The use of hydroxyapatite as filler is a new possibility for fuel cells polymer membranes applications. Alterations were also made on the membrane processing, more precisely on the functionalization stage, seeking the ideal H2SO4 concentrations to improve the material electrical properties. With the hydroxyapatite as filler it was possible to verify improvement on the membrane conductivity, besides alteration in the same with the variation of H2SO4 concentration during the functionalization.
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