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Methanol permeability and properties of DMFC membranes based on sulfonated PEEK/PVDF blends
Author(s) -
Wootthikanokkhan J.,
Seeponkai N.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.25151
Subject(s) - membrane , direct methanol fuel cell , materials science , thermal stability , nafion , methanol , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , permeability (electromagnetism) , methanol fuel , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , polymer blend , composite material , polymer , chemistry , copolymer , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , anode , engineering , biochemistry
Proton exchange membranes for a direct methanol fuel cell were prepared by blending poly(vinylidene fluoride) [PVDF] with sulfonated poly(etheretherketone) [SPEEK]. The effects of PVDF content on methanol permeability in the blend membranes were investigated by using a diffusion cell and gas chromatography technique. The thermal resistance and proton conductivity of the membranes were also determined by using a thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and an impedance analysis technique, respectively. It was found that methanol permeability in the blend membranes decreased with PVDF content at the expense of proton conductivity. The methanol permeability values of the blend membranes are much lower than that of Nafion 115, whereas proton conductivities of the membranes are comparable to that of Nafion. The thermal stability of these blend membranes are above 250°C which is sufficiently high for use in DMFC. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5941–5947, 2006