Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Leak-Proof Gasket with Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanoflakes Enhances Performance and Durability

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Leak-Proof Gasket with Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanoflakes Enhances Performance and Durability

Addressing limitations of conventional non-fluorinated gaskets by improving hydrogen sealing and durability

A research team in South Korea has developed a novel #gaskettechnology that enhances both the safety and efficiency of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) & water electrolyzers (PEMWEs, AEMWEs)core devices for hydrogen production and utilization by simultaneously improving mechanical strength and gas-tight sealing.

Dr. Keun-Hwan Oh and team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) have successfully applied functionalized 2D boron nitride nanoflakes (BNNFs) to silicone and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)-based sealing gaskets. The newly developed nanocomposite gasket demonstrates excellent mechanical robustness, hydrogen-barrier capability, and chemical and thermal stability.

In hydrogen-energy systems, gaskets play a vital role in sealing reactant gases and preventing hydrogen leakage within the stack. A decline in gasket performance can reduce system efficiency & even cause severe safety hazards.

While fluoroelastomer-based gaskets offer strong durability, their high cost and PFAS-related environmental restrictions limit widespread use. In contrast, EPDM and silicone materials are more affordable & processable but suffer from poor hydrogen impermeability and chemical resistance.

To overcome these drawbacks, the KRICT team functionalized #boronnitridenanoflakes using 1-pyrenemethyl methacrylate (1-PMA), enabling C–C coupling between the nanofiller & polymer chains. This strategy formed a densely crosslinked network that maximizes the “maze-effect” for hydrogen diffusion & maintains structural stability even under harsh operating conditions.

Remarkably, incorporating only 0.5 wt % of functionalized BNNFs led to substantial improvements:

· EPDM composite: +32.1 % in Young’s modulus, −55.7 % in H₂ permeability

· Silicone composite: +96.6 % in Young’s modulus, −42.7 % in H₂ permeability

In long-term chemical-durability tests (225 hours) under acidic and alkaline conditions, the EPDM nanocomposite showed only 6.6 % and 3.8 % weight loss respectively, while the silicone composite exhibited minimal degradation of 0.2 % and 2.1 %.

Cell-performance evaluation confirmed that both nanocomposite gaskets delivered equivalent or superior current densities compared with commercial gaskets, ensuring uniform internal pressure distribution & reduced contact resistance between electrodes.

This breakthrough goes beyond mechanical reinforcement it improves gas-barrier, chemical-resistance, electrochemical performance simultaneously, offering a viable non-fluorinated alternative for hydrogen energy systems.

The technology is expected to accelerate early commercialization for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, power-generation stacks, & large-scale water-electrolysis systems.

source : Dr.David Novak