Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) of sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) and sulfonated montmorillonite (SMMT) have been developed. Sodium montmorillonite (NaMMT) has been sulfonated with 4-sulfophthalic acid and incorporated into the SPSf matrix for further enhancement of proton conductivity. Sulfonation of NaMMT has been confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The XRD patterns proved that the SMMT layers were completely exfoliated within the SPSf matrix. The performances of the PEM in terms of their liquid uptake, oxidative stability, and proton conductivity were investigated. The morphological characterizations have been carried out using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. SPSf/SMMT membrane with 5 wt% of SMMT loading showed adequate thermal stability and an improved proton conductivity. The reduction in methanol permeability from 8.9 ×10−5 cm2 s−1 to 2.4 × 10−5 cm2 s−1 has been observed when SMMT loading content increased from 1 wt% to 5 wt%. Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance showed a power density value of 49 mW cm−2for SPSf/SMMT membrane, indicating its candidature for DMFC applications.
ShoesmithJPCollinsRDOakleyMJ. Status of solid polymer fuel cell system development. J Power Sourc1994; 49: 129–142.
2.
SavadogoO.Emerging membranes for electrochemical system. I. Solid polymer membranes for fuel cell systems. J New Mat Electrochem Syst1998; 1: 47–66.
3.
YangCCostamagnaPSrinivasanS. Approaches and technical challenges to high temperature operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Power Sourc2001; 103: 1–9.
4.
Gnana KumarGKimARSukNK. Nafion membranes modified with silica sulfuric acid for the elevated temperature and lower humidity operation of PEMFC. Int J Hydrogen Energ2009; 34: 9788–9794.
5.
DevrimYErkanSBacN. Preparation and characterization of sulfonated polysulfone/titanium dioxide composite membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energ2009; 34: 3467–3475.
6.
KerresJ. Development of ionomer membranes for fuel cells. J Membr Sci2001; 185: 3–27.
7.
KreuerKD. On the development of proton conducting polymer membranes for hydrogen and methanol fuel cell. J Membr Sci2001; 185: 29–39.
8.
HandeVRaoSRathS. Crosslinking of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) using aromatic bis (hydroxymethyl) compound. J Membr Sci2008; 322: 67–73.
9.
AlbertiGCasciolaMMassinelliL. Polymeric proton conducting membranes for medium temperature fuel cell (110–160°C). J Membr Sci2001; 185: 73–81.
10.
ZaidiSMJMikhailenkoSDRobertsonGP. Proton conducting composite membranes from poly (ether ether ketone) and heteropolyacids for fuel cell application. J Membr Sci2000; 173: 17–34.
11.
UnnikrishnanLPrasadMMohantyS. Polysulfone/C30B nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell applications: effect of various sulfonating agents. Poly - Plastics Tech Eng2012; 51: 568–577.
12.
JaffarJIsmailAFMatsuuraT. Preparation and barrier properties of SPEEK/Cloisite-15A/TAP nanocomposite membrane for DMFC application. J Membr Sci2009; 345: 119–127.
13.
GeniesCMercierRSillionB. Soluble sulfonated naphthalenic polyimides as materials for proton exchange membranes. Polymer2001; 42: 359–373.
14.
GuoXFangJWatariT. Novel sulfonated polyimides as polyelectrolytes for fuel cell application. Macromolecules2002; 35: 6703–6713.
15.
JonesDJRoziereJ. Recent advances in the functionalisation of polybenzimidazole and polyetherketone for fuel cell applications. J Membr Sci2001; 185: 41–58.
16.
AsensioJABorrosSGomzRP. Proton-conducting polymers based on benzimidazoles and sulfonated benzimidazoles. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem2002; 40: 3703–3710.
17.
KwakSHYangTHKimCS. Polymer composite membrane incorporated with hygroscopic material for high-temperature PEMFC. Electrochim Acta2004; 50: 653–657.
18.
LufranoFSquadritoGPattiA. Sulfonated polysulfone as promising membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. J Appl Polym Sci2000; 77: 1250–1256.
19.
FilhoFGomesA. Crosslinked sulfonated polysulfone-based polymer electrolyte membranes induced by Gamma ray irradiation. Int J Polym Mater2010; 59: 424–437.
RuffmannBSilvaHSchulteB. Organic/inorganic composites membranes for DMFC application. Solid State Ionics2003; 269: 162–163.
22.
Hasani-SadrabadiMMDashtimoghadamEMajediFS. Novel nanocomposite proton exchange membranes based on Nafion® and AMPS-modified montmorillonite for fuel cell applications. J Membr Sci2010; 365: 286–293.
23.
PlackettDSiuALiQ. High-temperature proton exchange membranes based on polybenzimidazole and clay composites for fuel cells. J Membr Sci2011; 383: 78–87.
24.
LinYFMaCMLiaoSH. Preparation and properties of high performance nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell. J Power Sourc2007; 165: 692–700.
25.
SanglimsuwanASeeponkaiNWootthikanokkhanJ. Effects of concentration of organically modified nanoclay on properties of sulfonated poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite membranes. Int J Electrochem2011; 2011: 1–6.
26.
ChenSLKrishnanLSrinivasanS. Ion exchange resin/poly styrene sulfonate composite membranes for PEM Fuel Cells. J Membr Sci2004; 243: 327–333.
27.
MohammadMHasaniSSharriarHE. Nanocomposite membrane made from sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) and montmorillonite clay for fuel cell application. Energ Fuel2008; 22: 2539–2592.
GosalawitRChirachanchaiSManuspiyaH. Krytox-silica–nafion composite membrane: a hybrid system for maintaining proton conductivity in a wide range of operating temperatures. Catal Today2006; 118: 259–265.
30.
DeukJKHaeYHSangYN. Characterization of a composite membrane based on SPAES/sulfonated montmorillonite for DMFC application. Macromol Res2012; 20: 21–29.
31.
KimTKKangMChoiYS. Preparation of nafion-sulfonated clay nanocomposite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells via a film coating process. J Power Sourc2007; 165: 1–8.
32.
CommerPCherstvyAGSpohrE. The effect of water content on proton transport in polymer electrolyte membrane. Fuel cells2002; 3: 127–136.
33.
YeXBaiHSWinstonWS. Synthesis and characterization of new sulfonated polyimides as proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells. J Membr Sci2006; 279: 570–577.
