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Preparation and characterization of proton exchange membrane based on SPSEBS/PSU blends for fuel cell applications

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  • Bhavani, Perumal
  • Sangeetha, Dharmalingam

Abstract

Proton-conducting polymer membranes are used as an electrolyte in the so-called proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Commercially available membranes are perfluosulfonic acid polymers, a class of high-cost ionomers. This paper examines the potential of polymer blends, namely those of sulfonated polystyrene ethylene butylene polystyrene (SPSEBS) and polysulfone (PSU), in the proton exchange membrane application. SPSEBS/PSU blends were prepared by solvent evaporation method. SPSEBS membranes exhibited good conductivity, flexibility and chemical stability while they had poor mechanical stability. In an effort to improve the mechanical properties of SPSEBS while maintaining the initial conductivity, it was incorporated with PSU. The obtained membranes were characterized in terms of conductivity, ionic exchange capacity and water uptake. Blend membranes were studied by FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the membranes was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thermal stability of the membranes was studied by TGA and DSC. Mechanical strength was studied by UTM. This paper presents results of recent investigations to develop an optimized in-house membrane electrode assembly (MEA) preparation technique combining catalyst ink spraying and assembly hot pressing. Easy steps were chosen in this preparation technique in order to simplify the method, aiming at cost reduction. The influence of MEA fabrication parameters like electrode pressing or annealing on the performance of hydrogen fuel cells was studied by single cell measurements with H2/O2 operation. Carbon cloth was used as a gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the composition of electrode inks was optimized with regard to most favorable fuel cell performance. Commercial E-TEK catalyst was used on the anode and cathode with Pt loadings of 0.125 and 0.37 mg/cm2, respectively. The MEA with best performance delivered approximately 0.50 W/cm2, at room temperature. The methanol permeability and selectivity showed a strong influence on DMFC performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhavani, Perumal & Sangeetha, Dharmalingam, 2011. "Preparation and characterization of proton exchange membrane based on SPSEBS/PSU blends for fuel cell applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 3360-3369.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:36:y:2011:i:5:p:3360-3369
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2011.03.033
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ayyaru, Sivasankaran & Dharmalingam, Sangeetha, 2015. "A study of influence on nanocomposite membrane of sulfonated TiO2 and sulfonated polystyrene-ethylene-butylene-polystyrene for microbial fuel cell application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 202-208.
    2. Zhang, Caizhi & Zhang, Yuqi & Wang, Lei & Deng, Xiaozhi & Liu, Yang & Zhang, Jiujun, 2023. "A health management review of proton exchange membrane fuel cell for electric vehicles: Failure mechanisms, diagnosis techniques and mitigation measures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Parnian, Mohammad Javad & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Gashoul, Fatemeh, 2017. "Comprehensive investigation of physicochemical and electrochemical properties of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) membranes with different degrees of sulfonation for proton exchange membrane fuel ," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 614-628.
    4. V., Vijayalekshmi & Khastgir, Dipak, 2018. "Fabrication and comprehensive investigation of physicochemical and electrochemical properties of chitosan-silica supported silicotungstic acid nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 313-330.
    5. Roudbari, Mohsen Najafi & Ojani, Reza & Raoof, Jahan Bakhsh, 2019. "Performance improvement of polymer fuel cell by simultaneously inspection of catalyst loading, catalyst content and ionomer using home-made cathodic half-cell and response surface method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 151-161.
    6. Qiu, Diankai & Peng, Linfa & Liang, Peng & Yi, Peiyun & Lai, Xinmin, 2018. "Mechanical degradation of proton exchange membrane along the MEA frame in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 210-222.
    7. Alipour Moghaddam, Jafar & Parnian, Mohammad Javad & Rowshanzamir, Soosan, 2018. "Preparation, characterization, and electrochemical properties investigation of recycled proton exchange membrane for fuel cell applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 699-709.

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    Keywords

    PSU; SPSEBS; Blend; Sulfonation;
    All these keywords.

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