Polymer electrolyte membranes based on sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) enabled by amine-modified iron titanate nanoparticles

New polymer electrolyte membrane was easily prepared by incorporating amine-modified iron titanate (AIT) nanoparticles into sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) polymer matrix. The prepared nanocomposite membranes exhibited improved mechanical stability, good water retention properties and higher proton conductivity compared with pristine SPEEK membrane. Incorporation of AIT nanoparticles creates water channels at interface of polymer/nanoparticle which creates more direct pathways for proton transport through membrane. Nanocomposite membrane, with 2 wt.% AIT content, showed the proton conductivity of 0.065 S cm-1 and 0.120 S cm-1, respectively at 25 °C and 80 °C.

Keywords:

SPEEK , amine-modified iron titanate , proton conductivity