Polymer/Nano-Inorganic Composite Proton Exchange (original) (raw)

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) is one key component of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), which has double functions of conducting protons, separating fuels and oxidant. At present, the performance and price of sulfonic acid PEMs used in DMFCs are deeply concerned. In order to reduce membrane's cost and improve performance of Nafion membrane, three different kinds of membranes have been studied in this thesis. Chapter 3, Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 present those three different but related types of membranes, respectively. In Chapter 3, sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) was synthesized by sulfonating poly(ether ether ketone) with 98% sulfuric acid. SPEEK membranes possess good thermal stability and mechanical properties, low methanol permeability (P = 4.00×10 −9 cm 2 /s at DS = 0.30) and the proton conductivity (σ = 2.5 × 10 −2 S/cm at DS = 0.82). The proton conductivity of the SPEEK membranes, water uptake and methanol permeability were increased with increasing DS and temperature. In Chapter 4, SPEEK/phosphorized zirconium oxide nano-particles (ZP) composite membranes were prepared by incorporating various ratios of ZP into SPEEK. SPEEK/ZP membranes showed many improved properties.

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