Nanocomposite membranes based sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) for proton exchange membrane fuel cell application

Novel nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and BaZrO3 nanoparticles were prepared with solution casting method. The morphology, thermalproperties, proton conductivity and fuel cell performance of the nanocomposite membranes were investigated. The nanocomposite membrane with 1 wt.% of BaZrO3 nanoparticles showed the highest proton conductivity of 70 mS/cm at 80 °C. The outstanding proton conductivity of thenanocomposite membranes can be attributed to presence of BaZrO3 nanoparticles which can perform as pathways for proton transport. Moreover, the nanocomposite membranes also showed elevated thermal stabilities. The SPEEK/BaZrO3 (1 wt.%) nanocomposite membrane showed apeak power density of 130 mW/cm2 at 80 °C. The new SPEEK/BaZrO3 nanocomposite membranes with the well-defined proton transport channels can be the potential alternative materials to Nafion for PEMFC.

Keywords:

Sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) , nanocomposite membrane , proton conductivity