Enhanced performance of nanocomposite membrane developed on sulfonated poly (1, 4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) with zeolite imidazole frameworks for fuel cell application

Abstract

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cells have received a lot of interest and use metal organic frameworks (MOF)/polymer nanocomposite membranes (PEMFC). ZIF-90 was employed as an addition in the SPEES matrix in order to investigate the proton conductivity in a novel nanocomposite membrane made of sulfonated poly (1, 4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) (SPEES)/zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF). The high porosity, free surface, and presence of the aldehyde group in the ZIF-90 nanostructure have a substantial impact on enhancing the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and proton conductivity capabilities of the SPEES/ZIF-90 nanocomposite membranes. The findings demonstrate that SPEES/ZIF-90 nanocomposite membranes with 3 wt. % ZIF-90 had proton conductivities up to 160 mS/cm at 90°C and 98% RH, which was 1.9 times more than SPEES membrane at 55 mS/cm under the same conditions. In comparison to the pristine SPEES membrane, the SPEES/ZIF-90/3 membrane demonstrated a 79 percent increase in maximum power density (0.52 W/cm² at 0.5 V and 98% RH).

Key findings

• ▸Proton conductivities up to 160 mS/cm at 90°C and 98% RH, 1.9 times more than SPEES membrane at 55 mS/cm.
• ▸79% increase in maximum power density (0.52 W/cm² at 0.5 V and 98% RH) compared to pristine SPEES membrane.
• ▸High porosity, free surface, and presence of aldehyde group in ZIF-90 nanostructure enhance mechanical, chemical, thermal, and proton conductivity capabilities of SPEES/ZIF-90 nanocomposite membranes.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.21203/rs.3.rs-2747512/v1

Journal

Research Square

Year

2023