Composite plasma polymerized sulfonated polystyrene membrane for PEMFC

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2015.06.028· OSTI ID:22475974

Nath, Bhabesh Kumar; Khan, Aziz; Chutia, Joyanti

Highlights: • Methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) is used as the sulfonating agent. • The proton conductivity of the membrane is found to be 0.141 S cm{sup −1}. • Power density of fuel cell with styrene/MMS membrane is 0.5 W cm{sup −2}. • The membrane exhibits thermal stability up to 140 °C. - Abstract: This work presents the introduction of an organic compound methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) for the first time in fabrication of polystyrene based proton exchange membrane (PEM) by plasma polymerization process. The membrane is fabricated by co-polymerizing styrene and MMS in capacitively coupled continuous RF plasma. The chemical composition of the plasma polymerized polymer membrane is investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy which reveals the formation of composite structure of styrene and MMS. The surface morphology studied using AFM and SEM depicts the effect of higher partial pressure of MMS on surface topography of the membrane. The proton transport property of the membrane studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows the achievement of maximum proton conductivity of 0.141 S cm{sup −1} which is comparable to Nafion 117 membrane. Fuel cell performance test of the synthesized membrane shows a maximum power density of 500 mW cm{sup −2} and current density of 0.62 A cm{sup −2} at 0.6 V.

• OSTI ID: 22475974
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 70; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 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
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROMETERS
MEMBRANES
METHYL METHANESULFONATE
PARTIAL PRESSURE
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERIZATION
POLYSTYRENE
POWER DENSITY
PROTON CONDUCTIVITY
PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
PROTON TRANSPORT
PROTONS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SPECTROSCOPY
STYRENE
SURFACES