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Novel high-performance nanocomposite proton exchange membranes based on poly (ether sulfone)

Hasani-Sadrabadi, M.M ; Sharif University of Technology | 2010

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2009.05.026
  3. Publisher: 2010
  4. Abstract:
  5. In the present research, proton exchange membranes based on partially sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) (S-PES) with various degrees of sulfonation were synthesized. It was found that the increasing of sulfonation degree up to 40% results in the enhancement of water uptake, ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity properties of the prepared membranes to 28.1%, 1.59 meq g -1, and 0.145 S cm -1, respectively. Afterwards, nanocomposite membranes based on S-PES (at the predetermined optimum sulfonation degree) containing various loading weights of organically treated montmorillonite (OMMT) were prepared via the solution intercalation technique. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the exfoliated structure of OMMT in the macromolecular matrices. The S-PES nanocomposite membrane with 3.0 wt% of OMMT content showed the maximum selectivity parameter of about 520,000 S s cm -3 which is related to the high conductivity of 0.051 S cm -1 and low methanol permeability of 9.8 × 10 -8 cm 2 s -1. Furthermore, single cell DMFC fuel cell performance test with 4 molar methanol concentration showed a high power density (131 mW cm -2) of the nanocomposite membrane at the optimum composition (40% of sulfonation and 3.0 wt% of OMMT loading) compared to the Nafion ®117 membrane (114 mW cm -2). Manufactured nanocomposite membranes thanks to their high selectivity, ease of preparation and low cost could be suggested as the ideal candidate for the direct methanol fuel cell applications. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
  6. Keywords:
  7. Direct methanol fuel cell performance ; Membrane selectivity ; Nafion ; Organically modified montmorillonite ; Polymer electrolyte membrane ; Sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) ; Direct methanol fuel cell performance ; Membrane selectivity ; Nafion ; Organically modified montmorillonite ; Polymer electrolyte membrane ; Sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) ; Chemical analysis ; Clay minerals ; Deionized water ; Diffraction ; Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) ; Ethers ; Holographic interferometry ; Ion exchange ; Ion exchange membranes ; Methanol ; Methanol fuels ; Nanocomposites ; Organic compounds ; Polyelectrolytes ; Potential energy ; Potential energy surfaces ; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) ; Protons ; Silicate minerals ; Sulfonation ; Cell membranes ; Composite ; Electrical conductivity ; Electrolyte ; Fuel cell ; Ion exchange ; Membrane ; Methanol ; Montmorillonite ; Nanotechnology ; Performance assessment ; Permeability ; Polymerase chain reaction ; X-ray diffraction
  8. Source: Renewable Energy ; Volume 35, Issue 1 , 2010 , Pages 226-231 ; 09601481 (ISSN)
  9. URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148109002699