Studies on development of titania nanotube (TNT) based ePTFE-Nafion®-composite membrane for electrochemical methanol reformation

• ePTFE-Nafion®-TNT composite membrane synthesised using impregnation/casting method.
• Morphology and electrochemical performance of composite membrane was evaluated.
• Composite membrane showed high thermal and mechanical strength.
• Comparable performance to Nafion® observed with composite membrane in ECMR process.

The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) substrate based composite polymer electrolyte membrane was prepared using Nafion® ionomer and titania nanotube (TNT) as a filler in the matrix and demonstrated its use as electrolyte in a polymer electrolyte Membrane (PEM) based electrochemical methanol reformation (ECMR) for hydrogen generation. The composite membranes were characterised for their mechanical strength and thermal stability using dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) and thermo–gravimetric analysis (TGA). Methanol cross-over studies were carried out for composite membrane and compared with commercial Nafion® 117 membrane. The PEM based ECMR cell with composite membrane shows comparable performance related to Nafion® 117 with lower methanol crossover rates.