Triple-layer sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/sulfonated polyimide membranes for fuel cell applications

Abstract

A series of triple-layer membranes were prepared based on a sulfonated polyimide (SPI) and a traditional sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) polymer matrix. Compared with the single-component membranes (pure SPI and SPEEK), the multicomponent membranes exhibited better comprehensive performance. Interestingly, the triple-layer membranes possessed improved mechanical properties, lower water uptake, and swelling ratio than those of the corresponding blend membranes. When the contents of SPI were 30 and 40%, the triple-layer membranes even had lower methanol permeability (3.42 and 2.61 Â 10 À7 cm 2 s À1 , respectively) than that of the pure SPI membrane (3.51 Â 10 À7 cm 2 s À1 ). The proton conductivity of the triple-layer membranes was in the range of 0.117-0.149 S cm À1 at 100 C. All the results suggest that the triple-layer membranes have sufficiently excellent performance to be applied in fuel cells.

The advances development of proton exchange membrane with high proton conductivity and balanced stability in fuel cells

“…The main or side chains of PEM that predominates in non-fluorinated sulfonic acid membranes are aromatic or aliphatic. Sulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) (sPAES), 21,22 sulfonated poly (aryl ether ketone sulfone) (SPAEKS), 23 sulfonated polyphenylene oxide (SPPO), 24 sulfonated polyimides (SPIs), 25 with sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) 26,27 are now the most used non-fluorinated sulfonic acid membranes. These sulfonated polymers could be generated either through monomer polymerization or polymer sulfonation.…”

New approaches towards novel composite and multilayer membranes for intermediate temperature-polymer electrolyte fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells

“…Although the WU was low, the multilayer membrane achieved a good performance in DMFC because of its high selectivity, which meant that the methanol crossover was almost alleviated. Li, et al [114] developed a three layer membrane, where the two external layers were made of sulphonated poly(imide) (SPI) and the inner layer was a SPEEK-SPI blend with 10 to 40 wt.% of SPI. The authors compared the multilayer membrane with a single membrane of SPEEK-SPI blend (10 to 40 wt.% SPEEK).…”

Design and synthesis of high heat-resistant, soluble, and hydrophobic fluorinated polyimides containing pyridine and trifluoromethylthiophenyl units

“…To overcome the weakness of the above-mentioned polymers, several efforts have been made worldwide to obtain a class of polyimides, which have good solubility and processability without impairing the performance and extending their technological applications in the industry. 11 –15 So far, there are typical practices to introduce bucky pendant groups, 16 –19 flexible linkages, 20 –26 non-coplanar structure, 27,28 and fluorinated structure by structural modification method. 29 –34 In this respect, the introduction of fluorinated substituents, such as perfluoroalkyl, pendent trifluoromethyl groups, and hexafluoroisopropylidene groups into aromatic polyimide backbones, can decrease the regularity of polymer chains and lead to the weakening of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and chain packing efficiency, and then improve solubility in organic solvents.…”