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Sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)/phosphotungstic acid/attapulgite composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
Author(s) -
Wen Sheng,
Gong Chunli,
Shu YaoChi,
Tsai FangChang,
Yeh JenTaut
Publication year - 2011
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.34540
Subject(s) - phosphotungstic acid , membrane , materials science , nafion , ultimate tensile strength , chemical engineering , methanol , thermal stability , methanol fuel , composite number , conductivity , polymer chemistry , ether , electrolyte , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , electrode , engineering
Novel composite sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)(SPES)/phosphotungstic acid (PWA)/attapulgite (AT) membranes were investigated for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Physical–chemical properties of the composite membranes were characterized by FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM‐EDX, water uptake, tensile test, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability. Compared with a pure SPES membrane, PWA, and AT doping in the membrane led to a higher thermal stability and glass transition temperature ( T g ) as revealed by TGA and DSC. Tensile test indicated that lower AT content (3%) in the composite can significantly increase the tensile strength, while higher AT loading demonstrated a smaller contribution on strength. Proper PWA and AT loadings in the composite membranes can increase the proton conductivity and lower the methanol cross‐over. The proton conductivity of the SPES‐P‐A 10% composite membrane reached 60% of the Nafion 112 membrane conductivity at room temperature while the methanol permeability was only one‐fourth of that of Nafion 112 membrane. This excellent performances of SPES/PWA/AT composite membranes could indicate a potential feasibility as a promising electrolyte for DMFC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011