Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are considered a clean source of electrical power for future energy demand, creating a potential to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Despite their advantages, including high energy density, efficiency and easy handling and distribution of fuel, the commercialization of DMFCs has suffered from some drawbacks, including methanol crossover and contamination of the system. Metal cation contaminants (such as Ni, Co, etc) introduced through the degradation of fuel cell components (bipolar plate and electro-catalyst layer) can significantly affect the Nafion-membrane properties and overall fuel cell performance. In the current study, a systematic approach is taken to characterize and identify the mechanism of the effect of metal solution contaminants on the activities of electro-catalysts of DMFCs. Cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode (RDE) techniques were utilized in order to characterize the effect of various concentrations (i.e., 2x10-x M (x=1-7)) of six metal solution contaminants (i.e., Co, Ni and Zn with sulfate and nitrate as counter-anions) on the voltammetric properties and electro-catalytic activity of polycrystalline Pt during methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The results showed a decrease in the MOR and ORR activities of Pt as the concentration of metal solution increased. The effect of counter-anion on the Pt activity was further investigated. The results showed that a combined effect of counter-anions and metal cations may be responsible for the decrease in the electro-catalytic activity of Pt. The effect of metal solution contaminants on the Nafion-ionomer of anode electro-catalysts was investigated using Nafion-coated Pt electrode. Voltammetric properties and MOR activities of Nafion-coated and bare Pt electrodes in the presence of Ni solution contaminants were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The overall results showed a significant negative effect of Ni solution contaminants on the electro-catalytic activity of bare Pt electrode as compared to the Nafion-coated Pt electrode. Based on the results, it appears that Nafion-ionomer film may interact with metal cations (through its sulfonate groups) and repel them away from the Pt active sites, partially inhibiting the negative effect of metal cations on the Pt activity of Nafion-coated Pt electrode. The effect of metal solution contaminants on the carbon-supported platinum nanoparticle (Pt/C) with various Nafion-ionomer distributions and contents (i.e., Nafion-incorporated Pt/C and Nafion-coated Pt/C electrodes) was further investigated. Cyclic voltammetry and EIS techniques were employed to characterize the effect of Ni solution contaminants on the voltammetric properties and MOR activities of Nafion-incorporated and Nafion-coated Pt/C electrodes. The overall results showed a stronger negative effect of Ni solution contaminants on the electro-catalytic activity of Nafion-incorporated Pt/C electrodes as compared to the Nafion-coated Pt/C electrodes. This further confirms previous observations showing the sulfonate groups of Nafion-ionomer film may attract the Ni metal cations, localize them away from the Pt active sites, and subsequently suppress the negative effect of cations on the activity of Nafion-coated Pt/C electrodes.

O Nafion é um ionômero constituído por uma matriz de politetrafluoroetileno (PTFE) contendo ramificações laterais terminadas em grupos sulfônicos. Neste trabalho, a membrana na forma ácida e nas formas salinas (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ e Cs+) foram analisadas, via espectroscopia vibracional e análise térmica. Para proceder à análise vibracional, dividiu-se o ionômero em três grupos, cada qual pertencente a um grupo pontual distinto: o grupo sultanato (C3v) ; o grupo éter (C2v) e a matriz fluorocarbônica D(14π/15). O grupo sulfonato apresenta modos vibracionais de estiramento simétrico (1060 cm-1) e de estiramento degenerado (na região de 1300 cm-1). O Nafion apresenta dois grupos éter, os quais deram origem no espectro a duas bandas: uma em 984 e outra na região de 970 cm-1. Verificou-se que apenas a banda em 970 cm-1 sofre uma influência mais direta do ambiente iônico. A atribuição das bandas da matriz polimérica foi feita considerando-se que a cadeia de PTFE apresenta estrutura helicoidal (157) . Nesta estrutura são previstas a existência de quatro espécies de simetria que apresentam atividade nos espectro Raman e infravermelho. No Raman são ativos os modos de espécie A1, E1 e E2 e no infravermelho são ativos os modos de espécie A2 e E1. A análise térmica dividiu-se em: termogravimetria e calorimetria exploratória diferencial. A termogravimetria mostrou que a membrana na forma ácida apresenta um padrão de decomposição distinto das membranas nas formas salinas. A calorimetria exploratória diferencial mostrou que a membrana na forma ácida apresenta três eventos endotérmicos: em 134ºC, em 250ºC e o último em 325ºC. Na membrana nas formas salinas apenas o primeiro pico endotérmico é bastante evidente, o segundo pico é pouco pronunciado e o terceiro está completamente ausente. / Nafion is an ionomer that consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) backbone with side chains terminated with a sulfonate group. In this work, Nafion in acid and saline forms (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ e Cs+) forms were investigated by vibrational spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. To proceed to the vibrational analysis the ionômero was splitted into three regions and which one has its own symmetry group. Sulfonate group (C3v), ether group (C2v) and the polymeric matrix D(14π/15). The sulfonate group presents two modes: the symmetric stretching (1060 cm-1) and the degenerated stretching (around 1300 cm-1). Nafion has two ether groups which originated two bands: one in 984 and the other in 970 cm-1. We verify that only the band in 970 cm-1 is affected by the ionic ambient. The assignment of the polymeric band was made considering that the PTFE has helicoidal structure (157). In this structure four symmetry species are predicted. In Raman spectra the following species are active: A1, E1 and E2 and the infrared are active the species: A2 and E1. Thermal analysis consisted of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermogravimetry shows that water content is dependent of cation change. Thermogravimetry also shows that the membrane in the acid and saline forms have different mechanisms of decomposition. Differential scanning calorimetry of Nafion-H shows three endothermic peaks: the first in 134ºC, the second in 250ºC and the last in 325ºC. Nafion saline forms shows only the first peak.

O Nafion é um ionômero constituído por uma matriz de politetrafluoroetileno (PTFE) contendo ramificações laterais terminadas em grupos sulfônicos. Neste trabalho, a membrana na forma ácida e nas formas salinas (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ e Cs+) foram analisadas, via espectroscopia vibracional e análise térmica. Para proceder à análise vibracional, dividiu-se o ionômero em três grupos, cada qual pertencente a um grupo pontual distinto: o grupo sultanato (C3v) ; o grupo éter (C2v) e a matriz fluorocarbônica D(14π/15). O grupo sulfonato apresenta modos vibracionais de estiramento simétrico (1060 cm-1) e de estiramento degenerado (na região de 1300 cm-1). O Nafion apresenta dois grupos éter, os quais deram origem no espectro a duas bandas: uma em 984 e outra na região de 970 cm-1. Verificou-se que apenas a banda em 970 cm-1 sofre uma influência mais direta do ambiente iônico. A atribuição das bandas da matriz polimérica foi feita considerando-se que a cadeia de PTFE apresenta estrutura helicoidal (157) . Nesta estrutura são previstas a existência de quatro espécies de simetria que apresentam atividade nos espectro Raman e infravermelho. No Raman são ativos os modos de espécie A1, E1 e E2 e no infravermelho são ativos os modos de espécie A2 e E1. A análise térmica dividiu-se em: termogravimetria e calorimetria exploratória diferencial. A termogravimetria mostrou que a membrana na forma ácida apresenta um padrão de decomposição distinto das membranas nas formas salinas. A calorimetria exploratória diferencial mostrou que a membrana na forma ácida apresenta três eventos endotérmicos: em 134ºC, em 250ºC e o último em 325ºC. Na membrana nas formas salinas apenas o primeiro pico endotérmico é bastante evidente, o segundo pico é pouco pronunciado e o terceiro está completamente ausente. / Nafion is an ionomer that consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) backbone with side chains terminated with a sulfonate group. In this work, Nafion in acid and saline forms (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ e Cs+) forms were investigated by vibrational spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. To proceed to the vibrational analysis the ionômero was splitted into three regions and which one has its own symmetry group. Sulfonate group (C3v), ether group (C2v) and the polymeric matrix D(14π/15). The sulfonate group presents two modes: the symmetric stretching (1060 cm-1) and the degenerated stretching (around 1300 cm-1). Nafion has two ether groups which originated two bands: one in 984 and the other in 970 cm-1. We verify that only the band in 970 cm-1 is affected by the ionic ambient. The assignment of the polymeric band was made considering that the PTFE has helicoidal structure (157). In this structure four symmetry species are predicted. In Raman spectra the following species are active: A1, E1 and E2 and the infrared are active the species: A2 and E1. Thermal analysis consisted of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermogravimetry shows that water content is dependent of cation change. Thermogravimetry also shows that the membrane in the acid and saline forms have different mechanisms of decomposition. Differential scanning calorimetry of Nafion-H shows three endothermic peaks: the first in 134ºC, the second in 250ºC and the last in 325ºC. Nafion saline forms shows only the first peak.