Enhanced proton conductivity from phosphoric acid‐incorporated 3D polyacrylamide‐graft‐starch hydrogel materials for high‐temperature proton exchange membranes. Issue 16 (21st March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Qi; Tang, Qunwei; He, Benlin; Chen, Haiyan; Yuan, Shuangshuang; Wang, Xin
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 131:Issue 16(2014:Aug. 15)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2014-03-21
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.40622
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>To enhance anhydrous proton conductivity of high‐temperature proton exchange membranes (PEMs), we report here the realization of H₃PO₄‐imbibed three‐dimensional (3D) polyacrylamide‐graft‐starch (PAAm‐g‐starch) hydrogel materials as high‐temperature PEMs using the unique absorption and retention of crosslinked PAAm‐g‐starch to concentrated H₃PO₄ aqueous solution. The 3D framework of PAAm‐g‐starch matrix provides enormous space to keep H₃PO₄ into the porous structure, which can be controlled by adjusting crosslinking agent and initiator dosages. Results show that the H₃PO₄ loading and therefore the proton conductivities of the membranes are significantly enhanced by increasing the amount of crosslinking agent and initiator dosages. Proton conductivities as high as 0.109 S cm⁻¹ at 180°C under fully anhydrous state are recorded. The high conductivities at high temperatures in combination with the simple preparation, low cost, and scalable matrices demonstrate the potential use of PAAm‐g‐starch hydrogel materials in high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. <bold>2014</bold>, <italic>131</italic>, 40622.</p> </abstract>