Study of polymeric nanocomposite membrane made from sulfonated polysulfone and nanoclay for fuel cell applications

Abstract

In the present study, sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU (T)) was prepared from PSU using trimethyl silyl chlorosulfonate as a sulfonating agent. Volumetric analytic studies revealed 58% degree of sulfonation and 1.15 meq g⁻¹ ion-exchange capacity of SPSU (T). Fourier transform infrared spectra also confirmed the occurrence of sulfonation reaction in SPSU (T). Subsequently, nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporating variable quantities of Cloisite 30B (C30B) within the SPSU (T) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone employing solution casting method. All the membranes were characterized for thermal analysis, liquid uptake, swelling behavior, and proton conductivity measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that incorporation of C30B increased the thermal stability of the membranes. Morphological study of the nanocomposite membranes was also evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The x-ray diffraction patterns of nanocomposite membranes confirmed exfoliation of C30B clay galleries within the SPSU (T) matrix.