{"id":{"repo_id":"houston","oai_identifier":"oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/20911"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/houston/oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/20911","repository":{"repo_id":"houston","name":"University of Houston","base_url":"https://uh-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Development of Proton Exchange Membrane for Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer","abstract":"This study focuses on the development and evaluation of advanced polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water electrolysis systems. Two novel membrane design strategies were investigated: (i) modification of porous PTFE substrates with dopamine and sulfonated dopamine to fabricate reinforced PTFE/Nafion composite membranes, and (ii) surface engineering of oligomeric silsesquioxane polyhedral (OSP) nanoparticles with polydopamine for enhancing the properties of OSP/Nafion composite membrane. The composite membranes were designed to overcome limitations of dimensional instability, fuel crossover, and poor performance under variable conditions like temperature and humidity. Comprehensive material characterization, chemical/electrochemical property analysis, and single-cell performance evaluation were carried out to assess enhanced properties through hydration behavior, proton conductivity, durability, and degradation pathways. Particular attention was given for understanding interfacial compatibility and the role of nanostructured fillers in tailoring membrane microstructure and their transport properties. The finding highlights the correlation of structure, property, and performance of the developed membrane that provides valuable guidelines for designing the next-generation electrolyte membranes for sustainable hydrogen energy technologies.","abstract_html":"This study focuses on the development and evaluation of advanced polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water electrolysis systems. Two novel membrane design strategies were investigated: (i) modification of porous PTFE substrates with dopamine and sulfonated dopamine to fabricate reinforced PTFE/Nafion composite membranes, and (ii) surface engineering of oligomeric silsesquioxane polyhedral (OSP) nanoparticles with polydopamine for enhancing the properties of OSP/Nafion composite membrane. The composite membranes were designed to overcome limitations of dimensional instability, fuel crossover, and poor performance under variable conditions like temperature and humidity. Comprehensive material characterization, chemical/electrochemical property analysis, and single-cell performance evaluation were carried out to assess enhanced properties through hydration behavior, proton conductivity, durability, and degradation pathways. Particular attention was given for understanding interfacial compatibility and the role of nanostructured fillers in tailoring membrane microstructure and their transport properties. The finding highlights the correlation of structure, property, and performance of the developed membrane that provides valuable guidelines for designing the next-generation electrolyte membranes for sustainable hydrogen energy technologies.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bhandari, Subash Chandra"],"institution":"University of Houston","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Physics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Bose, Anima"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Varghese, Oomman K","Robles Hernandez, Francisco C","Chen, Shuo","Freelon, Byron K"],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-12","date_published":"2025-12","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:32:58Z","subjects":["Fuel cells","Proton exchange membranes","Electrolyzers"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10657/20911","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Bose, Anima"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Varghese, Oomman K","Robles Hernandez, Francisco C","Chen, Shuo","Freelon, Byron K"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bhandari, Subash Chandra"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-02-09T19:36:46Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-12"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Houston"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Fuel cells","Proton exchange membranes","Electrolyzers"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10657/20911"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study focuses on the development and evaluation of advanced polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water electrolysis systems. Two novel membrane design strategies were investigated: (i) modification of porous PTFE substrates with dopamine and sulfonated dopamine to fabricate reinforced PTFE/Nafion composite membranes, and (ii) surface engineering of oligomeric silsesquioxane polyhedral (OSP) nanoparticles with polydopamine for enhancing the properties of OSP/Nafion composite membrane. The composite membranes were designed to overcome limitations of dimensional instability, fuel crossover, and poor performance under variable conditions like temperature and humidity. Comprehensive material characterization, chemical/electrochemical property analysis, and single-cell performance evaluation were carried out to assess enhanced properties through hydration behavior, proton conductivity, durability, and degradation pathways. Particular attention was given for understanding interfacial compatibility and the role of nanostructured fillers in tailoring membrane microstructure and their transport properties. The finding highlights the correlation of structure, property, and performance of the developed membrane that provides valuable guidelines for designing the next-generation electrolyte membranes for sustainable hydrogen energy technologies."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Development of Proton Exchange Membrane for Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Bose, Anima"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Varghese, Oomman K","Robles Hernandez, Francisco C","Chen, Shuo","Freelon, Byron K"],"dc:creator":["Bhandari, Subash Chandra"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-02-09T19:36:46Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-12"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study focuses on the development and evaluation of advanced polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water electrolysis systems. Two novel membrane design strategies were investigated: (i) modification of porous PTFE substrates with dopamine and sulfonated dopamine to fabricate reinforced PTFE/Nafion composite membranes, and (ii) surface engineering of oligomeric silsesquioxane polyhedral (OSP) nanoparticles with polydopamine for enhancing the properties of OSP/Nafion composite membrane. The composite membranes were designed to overcome limitations of dimensional instability, fuel crossover, and poor performance under variable conditions like temperature and humidity. Comprehensive material characterization, chemical/electrochemical property analysis, and single-cell performance evaluation were carried out to assess enhanced properties through hydration behavior, proton conductivity, durability, and degradation pathways. Particular attention was given for understanding interfacial compatibility and the role of nanostructured fillers in tailoring membrane microstructure and their transport properties. The finding highlights the correlation of structure, property, and performance of the developed membrane that provides valuable guidelines for designing the next-generation electrolyte membranes for sustainable hydrogen energy technologies."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10657/20911"],"dc:language.iso":["English"],"dc:subject":["Fuel cells","Proton exchange membranes","Electrolyzers"],"dc:title":["Development of Proton Exchange Membrane for Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physics"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Houston"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:32:58Z"}