Synthesis and characterization of novel nanocomposite membrane of sodium titanate/Nafion®

Novel nanocomposite membrane of sodium titanate/Nafion based on sodium titanate nanotubes with Nafion® were prepared by solvent casting techniques. Nanotubes of sodium titanate were synthesized by hydrothermal method. TEM, XRD, and FTIR were employed to characterize the crystal phase, microstructure, and other physicochemical properties of the membrane and the nanotube samples. FTIR results showed us that the nanotube material of Na2Ti3O7 has existed in the nanocomposite membrane of Na2Ti3O7/Nafion. The existence of sodium titanate nanotubes in Nafion® improves the methanol crossover and makes promising practical value of blocking methanol in direct methanol fuel cells.