Synthesis and testing of a composite membrane based on sulfonated polyphenylene oxide and silica compounds as proton exchange membrane for PEM fuel cells

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2017.05.015· OSTI ID:22730513

Petreanu, Irina ^[1]; Marinoiu, Adriana; Sisu, Claudia; Varlam, Mihai ^[1]; Fierascu, Radu ^[2]; Stanescu, Paul; Teodorescu, Mircea ^[3]

---

1. National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies, ICSI Rm. Valcea, 4 Uzinei Street, Ramnicu Valcea, Valcea (Romania)
2. The National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021, Bucharest (Romania)
3. University Polytehnica of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061, Bucharest (Romania)

Highlights: • A material based on composite poly (phenylene oxide)/ silica was synthesized and tested as PEM for Hydrogen Fuel Cells. • Sol-gel method has been used to generate silica particles inside the polymer matrix • The presence of silica inside the membrane was highlighted by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. • This membrane has improvements related to: water retention, extension by hydration and tensile strength in hydrated state silica particles inside the polymer matrix • The presence of silica inside the membrane was highlighted by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. • This membrane has improvements related to: water retention, extension by hydration and tensile strength in hydrated state. - Abstract: The present work is an attempt to improve the usseful properties of sulfonated polyphenylene oxide in order to obtain a proton exchange membrane (PEM) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFC). Formation of siloxane compounds inside the polymer matrix through an in situ sol-gel process improves properties of the composite membrane: water retention, tensile strength and dimensional stability of the membrane. The presence of the silicone atoms inside the polymer matrix is highlited in the X-ray fluorescence spectra. Parameters related to water absorbtion and proton transport inside the membrane such as: water uptake, hydration number (λ), dimensional expansion by hydration, ion exchange capacity and sulfonation degree show an optimization of the composite membrane compared to the polymeric one. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the composite membranes is better than the polymeric one when both samples are fully hydrated.

• OSTI ID: 22730513
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 96, Issue Part 3; Conference: International conference on advances in functional materials (AFM)-2016, Jeju Island (Korea, Republic of), 8-11 Aug 2016; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
HYDRATION
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
INFRARED SPECTRA
ION EXCHANGE
IONIC CONDUCTIVITY
MATRICES
OXIDATION
PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
RETENTION
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SYNTHESIS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS