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PWA/silica doped sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
Author(s) -
Chen ChienChung,
Tsi HungYi,
Tsen WenChin,
Chuang FuSheng,
Jang ShinCheng,
Shu YaoChi,
Wen Sheng,
Gong Chunli
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.34602
Subject(s) - membrane , thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , differential scanning calorimetry , nafion , thermal stability , chemical engineering , methanol fuel , polymer chemistry , methanol , polysulfone , chemistry , polymer , composite material , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , biochemistry , physics , electrode , engineering , thermodynamics
A novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES)/phosphotungstic acid (PWA)/silica composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) application were prepared. The structure and performance of the obtained membranes were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water uptake, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability. Compared to a pure SPES membrane, PWA and SiO 2 doped membranes had a higher thermal stability and glass transition temperature ( T g ) as revealed by TGA‐FTIR and DSC. The morphology of the composite membranes indicated that SiO 2 and PWA were uniformly distributed throughout the SPES matrix. Proper PWA and silica loadings in the composite membranes showed high proton conductivity and sufficient methanol permeability. The selectivity (the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability) of the SPES‐P‐S 15% composite membrane was almost five times than that of Nafion 112 membrane. This excellent selectivity of SPES/PWA/silica composite membranes indicate a potential feasibility as a promising electrolyte for DMFC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011