Advanced performance and ultra-high, long-term durability of acid-base blended membranes over 900 hours containing sulfonated PEEK and quaternized poly(arylene ether sulfone) in H2/O2 fuel cells. (1st April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Ae Rhan; Poudel, Milan Babu; Chu, Ji Young; Vinothkannan, Mohanraj; Santhosh Kumar, Ramasamy; Logeshwaran, Natarajan; Park, Byung-Hyun; Han, Myung-Kwan; Yoo, Dong Jin
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 254(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-01
• Subjects: SPEEK -- QNPAES -- Acid-base crosslinking -- PEMFC -- Long-term durability; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2023.110558
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, quaternized poly (arylene ether sulfone) (QNPAES) was synthesized using conventional nucleophilic aromatic polycondensation. We then developed a blended membrane composed of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) using facile solution casting. A series of mixed hybrid membranes of SPEEK/QNPAES were prepared by varying the wt% of QNPAES mixed with SPEEK. The results showed that an appropriate amount of QNPAES (i.e., 6 wt%) could significantly improve the mechanical strength, proton conductivity and physicochemical properties of a prepared mixed membrane, as well as the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance and durability at relative humidity (RH) of 20%. Specifically, a SPEEK/QNPAES at 6 wt% provides a current output, power output and endurance of 0.431 A cm −2, 0.15 W cm −2 and over 900 h, respectively, at an RH of 20% and 60 °C. These results can be attributed to acid-base ionic crosslinking, which offers effective interfacial compatibility between SPEEK and QNPAES. A PEMFC with SPEEK/QNPAES membranes when used at 20% RH achieved significantly advanced performance and ultra-high, long-term durability compared with those of PEMFCs with bare SPEEK, suggesting that SPEEK/QNPAES membranes can be used as polymer electrolyte membranes. Graphical abstract: Proton transport of SPEEK/QNPAES acid-base blended membranes for PEFC performance and ultra-high, long-term durability over 900 h. Image 1 Highlights: QNPAES was synthesized using conventional nucleophilic aromatic polycondensation. The SPEEK/QNPAES (6 wt%) demonstrated significantly improved proton conductivity. Acid-base crosslinking offers effective compatibility between SPEEK/QNPAES. The SPEEK/QNPAES provides maximum current output and power density. The SPEEK/QNPAES exhibits long-term durability under 20% RH for 900 h.