Characterization of Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone)/Silane Nanocomposite Membrane for High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

The perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane is most widely used in PEMFCs. However, its some major drawbacks like high cost and performance limitation at high temperature are obstacles of its commercialization. The goal of this study was to develop low cost membranes which have good conductivity in the range of PEMFCs operating temperature. We fabricated new sPEEK/3-APTES nanocomposite membrane where inorganic particles were chemically bonded to sulfuric acid group of sPEEK. PEEK is a thermally stable, mechanically tough and very cheap polymer. And the addition of 3-APTES and phosphorous acid increased the proton conductivity of composite membranes at high temperatures. This nanocomposite membranes maintained good conductivity at 110 degrees C.

The effect of grafting monomer charge on the antifouling performance of poly(ether ether ketone) hollow fiber membrane by ultraviolet irradiation polymerization

“…The continuous service temperature of PEEK is up to about 250 °C and it is almost insoluble in any common solvent at room temperature 16 . Therefore, PEEK is considered as a potential high performance membrane material which can be used in high‐temperature resistant ultrafiltration and microfiltration processes, 14 fuel cells 17–19 and gas separation 20 . However, PEEK has a non‐polar polymer backbone composed of alternate aryl ether and benzophenone groups, making PEEK hydrophobic 21 .…”

Fabrication and characterization of sulfonated polybenzimidazole/sulfonated imidized graphene oxide hybrid membranes for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

“…Consequently, reduction in proton conductivity is usually experienced. 30 Incorporation of inorganic fillers in order to enhance the proton conductivity as well as thermal, mechanical, and chemical stabilities of the sulfonated polymer such as sPBI [31][32][33][34][35] is usual practice. 27 Further, PBI could be modified by introducing sulfonic moieties in its structure through chemical modification or it is blended with other polymers which possess sulfonic acid group in their backbones 22 to reach the desired target of proton conduction.…”

“…29 In addition, aforementioned membranes are of low water-uptake and low ionic conductivities. 30 Incorporation of inorganic fillers in order to enhance the proton conductivity as well as thermal, mechanical, and chemical stabilities of the sulfonated polymer such as sPBI [31][32][33][34][35] is usual practice. For instance, Qian et al 36 achieved the increased conductivity of 0.08 S cm −1 at 180 C after incorporation of zirconium phosphate in sPBI matrix.…”