Synthesis of Poly (Ether Ether) Ketone Sulfonated Membrane with Tin Dioxide Particles

Abstract

The development of clean energy sources is a subject in focus and boosts fuel cells for research. In this context, studies on proton conductive membranes have an important role. In the present work two groups of membranes were synthetized: one contained SPEEK/SnO2 (varying the content of tin oxide from 2%, 4% and 6%) and the other with SPEEK/SnO2/HPW. The change in the membrane structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, the swelling in water and ethanol solution uptake test, thermal stability using TGA, change in Tg in DSC, the selective permeability by pervaporation test in water and the solution ethanol and proton conductivity by impedance spectroscopy. Through these analyses, it is possible to verify some effects: the tin oxide particles reduced the Tg membranes, they also controlled the membranes swelling in water and kept it approximately 30% lower than the pure SPEEK swelling and finally, among the tin oxide quantities tested in the membranes, it was reached 67.8 mS/cm as maximum value of proton conductivity.

Preparation of tungstic acid functionalized titanium oxide nanotubes and its effect on proton exchange membrane fuel cell

“…So, researchers have been working on developing cost efficient and ecofriendly polymer membranes consisting of hydrocarbon backbone. High engineering polymers such as poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) [5], Poly styrene-ethylene-butylenestyrene (PSEBS) [6], poly(ether sulfone) (PES) [7], polyimide (PI) [8], poly vinyl imidazole (PVIM) [9], polyphenylene (PPE) [10] and polybenzimidazole (PBI) [11], etc. have been subjected to modification (sulfonation) to replace Nafion [12].…”

Enhanced Fuel Cell Performance Using Ultrafast, Out-of-Plane Proton-Conducting, 3D Graphene Oxide as an Electrolyte

“…Currently, Nafion-based polymers are employed as the proton-conducting membrane (electrolyte) with a conductivity of ∼10 –4 to 10 –2 S cm –1 . Their use represents a limitation in terms of their high cost reflecting complexities associated with the Nafion synthetic route. , As a consequence, the development of alternative (cheaper) proton conductors is highly desirable. With this aim, in the past decade, graphene oxide (GO) has been investigated for this role primarily due to its high proton conductivity, physicochemical stability, abundance, and nontoxic nature. − …”