Unprecedented SPEEK-trimetal Oxide Composites: Physicochemical and Electrochemical Performance in Fuel Cell

Abstract

Advanced polymer composite membranes were prepared from a linear sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with bismuth cobalt zinc oxide [BCZO, (Bi2O3)0.07(CoO)0.03(ZnO)0.90] nanopowder as an inorganic additive for the application of H2-O2 fuel cell. Morphology data tend to provide evidences for the incorporation of BCZO into SPEEK polymer. Indeed, composite membrane loaded with 7.5 wt.% of BCZO was identified to uptake maximum water, while the pristine SPEEK membrane occurred to retain only 24.0 %. As such SPEEK matrix loaded with 7.5 wt.% of BCZO was found to exhibit the maximum proton conductivity of 0.030 S cm-1, whereas the pristine membrane was restricted to 0.021 S cm-1. Evidently, TGA profile of the composite membrane was measured to exhibit sufficient thermal stability to employ as electrolyte in fuel cell. The membrane electrode assembly of pristine SPEEK and SP-BCZO-7.5 wt.% membranes were fabricated and studied for their electrochemical performance. Indeed, the characteristics of newly developed composite membranes led to possess incredible feature towards fuel cell applications.